Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army
Shot by the Japanese along with 3 others for attempting to escape Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1930 United States Federal Census (24 April 1930): McGowan, Cowlitz County, Washington (sheet 8A, family 180, 515 Pacific Highway) - W. Russel Benson (8 Washington).
1940 United States Federal Census (15 April 1940): East Los Angles, Montebello Township, Los Angeles County, California (sheet 62B, line 68, 1300 So Woods Avenue) - Russell Benson (18 Washington). His family had lived in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington in 1935. Russell had completed 3 years of high school. He was a coin machine operator.
William R. Benson (1922 Washington) enlisted as a Private (S/N 19048556) in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps on 20 September 1940 in Ft. MacArthur, San Pedro County, California. His enlistment was for the Philippine Department. William was single, he had completed 3 years of high school and had been working as an electrician.
He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army and sent to the Philippines. They were part of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th was placed on Fort Mills, Corregidor Island where they manned the Seacoast Artillery Guns. Pvt. Benson is found on the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment roster of 31 March 1941 on Corregidor.
He was captured by the Japanese when Corregidor was surrendered on 06 May 1942 and taken to Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3 in Nueva Ecija Province, Central Luzon. Shortly after arriving at camp he and three others tried to escape.
The four left Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3, May 30, They were apprehended later the same day. After they were recaptured, they were tortured. "...they were forced to straddle a large pole, their hands drawn down and tied underneath...they were kept there as the sun burned their exposed skin, mosquitoes and flies swarming everywhere." The next day (31 My 1942) the men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot and buried. The other POWs, in the camp, had to watch their execution.
"...much of the entire camp watched as the men were cut loose and forced to dig a trench. It was obvious as the men stood in the trench that a firing squad was about to execute them.
The Japs announced that the men had tried to escape and were now to be executed. One of the intended victims spit on the officer who was Lt. Col. Shigeji Mori, the camp commander. The firing squad shot them down. The man who spat struggled back up but was shot again, crumpling into the ditch. An officer stepped forward and put a bullet into the head of each man."
Source: Seaman First Class, USN Bruce Elliott
The men were:
Pvt. William R. Benson (27085487), Los Angeles, California - 59th CAC
Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan (56781148), Arlington, Texas - 59th CAC
Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman (82399825), Huntington, West Virginia - 59th CAC
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee (56749614), Big Spring, Texas - 59th CAC
William was buried in the Cabanatuan prison cemetery – grave #5. After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 3, Grave 283 (D-D 12667). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Helmer A. Benson) Private First Class William R. Benson was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot D, Row 4, Grave 185.
~
Pvt. William R. Benson was one of four POWs who were executed by the Japanese after escaping from Cabanatuan #3. The other three were Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan, Cpl. Frederick L. Lee and Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman. All were from the 59th CAC Regiment. They escaped from the prison camp on 30 May 1942 but were caught later that same day. The men were brought back to the Japanese Camp “headquarters in a crouching position. They were obviously in extreme agony”. The next day 31 May 1942 they were “savagely tortured for several hours”. The men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot by a squad of Japanese riflemen. The other POWs in the camp had to watch their execution. “I then saw all the bodies covered with dirt”. M/Sgt. Frank C. Stecklein
Shot by the Japanese along with 3 others for attempting to escape Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1930 United States Federal Census (24 April 1930): McGowan, Cowlitz County, Washington (sheet 8A, family 180, 515 Pacific Highway) - W. Russel Benson (8 Washington).
1940 United States Federal Census (15 April 1940): East Los Angles, Montebello Township, Los Angeles County, California (sheet 62B, line 68, 1300 So Woods Avenue) - Russell Benson (18 Washington). His family had lived in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington in 1935. Russell had completed 3 years of high school. He was a coin machine operator.
William R. Benson (1922 Washington) enlisted as a Private (S/N 19048556) in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps on 20 September 1940 in Ft. MacArthur, San Pedro County, California. His enlistment was for the Philippine Department. William was single, he had completed 3 years of high school and had been working as an electrician.
He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army and sent to the Philippines. They were part of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th was placed on Fort Mills, Corregidor Island where they manned the Seacoast Artillery Guns. Pvt. Benson is found on the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment roster of 31 March 1941 on Corregidor.
He was captured by the Japanese when Corregidor was surrendered on 06 May 1942 and taken to Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3 in Nueva Ecija Province, Central Luzon. Shortly after arriving at camp he and three others tried to escape.
The four left Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3, May 30, They were apprehended later the same day. After they were recaptured, they were tortured. "...they were forced to straddle a large pole, their hands drawn down and tied underneath...they were kept there as the sun burned their exposed skin, mosquitoes and flies swarming everywhere." The next day (31 My 1942) the men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot and buried. The other POWs, in the camp, had to watch their execution.
"...much of the entire camp watched as the men were cut loose and forced to dig a trench. It was obvious as the men stood in the trench that a firing squad was about to execute them.
The Japs announced that the men had tried to escape and were now to be executed. One of the intended victims spit on the officer who was Lt. Col. Shigeji Mori, the camp commander. The firing squad shot them down. The man who spat struggled back up but was shot again, crumpling into the ditch. An officer stepped forward and put a bullet into the head of each man."
Source: Seaman First Class, USN Bruce Elliott
The men were:
Pvt. William R. Benson (27085487), Los Angeles, California - 59th CAC
Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan (56781148), Arlington, Texas - 59th CAC
Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman (82399825), Huntington, West Virginia - 59th CAC
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee (56749614), Big Spring, Texas - 59th CAC
William was buried in the Cabanatuan prison cemetery – grave #5. After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 3, Grave 283 (D-D 12667). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Helmer A. Benson) Private First Class William R. Benson was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot D, Row 4, Grave 185.
~
Pvt. William R. Benson was one of four POWs who were executed by the Japanese after escaping from Cabanatuan #3. The other three were Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan, Cpl. Frederick L. Lee and Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman. All were from the 59th CAC Regiment. They escaped from the prison camp on 30 May 1942 but were caught later that same day. The men were brought back to the Japanese Camp “headquarters in a crouching position. They were obviously in extreme agony”. The next day 31 May 1942 they were “savagely tortured for several hours”. The men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot by a squad of Japanese riflemen. The other POWs in the camp had to watch their execution. “I then saw all the bodies covered with dirt”. M/Sgt. Frank C. Stecklein
Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army
Shot by the Japanese along with 3 others for attempting to escape Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1930 United States Federal Census (24 April 1930): McGowan, Cowlitz County, Washington (sheet 8A, family 180, 515 Pacific Highway) - W. Russel Benson (8 Washington).
1940 United States Federal Census (15 April 1940): East Los Angles, Montebello Township, Los Angeles County, California (sheet 62B, line 68, 1300 So Woods Avenue) - Russell Benson (18 Washington). His family had lived in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington in 1935. Russell had completed 3 years of high school. He was a coin machine operator.
William R. Benson (1922 Washington) enlisted as a Private (S/N 19048556) in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps on 20 September 1940 in Ft. MacArthur, San Pedro County, California. His enlistment was for the Philippine Department. William was single, he had completed 3 years of high school and had been working as an electrician.
He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army and sent to the Philippines. They were part of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th was placed on Fort Mills, Corregidor Island where they manned the Seacoast Artillery Guns. Pvt. Benson is found on the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment roster of 31 March 1941 on Corregidor.
He was captured by the Japanese when Corregidor was surrendered on 06 May 1942 and taken to Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3 in Nueva Ecija Province, Central Luzon. Shortly after arriving at camp he and three others tried to escape.
The four left Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3, May 30, They were apprehended later the same day. After they were recaptured, they were tortured. "...they were forced to straddle a large pole, their hands drawn down and tied underneath...they were kept there as the sun burned their exposed skin, mosquitoes and flies swarming everywhere." The next day (31 My 1942) the men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot and buried. The other POWs, in the camp, had to watch their execution.
"...much of the entire camp watched as the men were cut loose and forced to dig a trench. It was obvious as the men stood in the trench that a firing squad was about to execute them.
The Japs announced that the men had tried to escape and were now to be executed. One of the intended victims spit on the officer who was Lt. Col. Shigeji Mori, the camp commander. The firing squad shot them down. The man who spat struggled back up but was shot again, crumpling into the ditch. An officer stepped forward and put a bullet into the head of each man."
Source: Seaman First Class, USN Bruce Elliott
The men were:
Pvt. William R. Benson (27085487), Los Angeles, California - 59th CAC
Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan (56781148), Arlington, Texas - 59th CAC
Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman (82399825), Huntington, West Virginia - 59th CAC
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee (56749614), Big Spring, Texas - 59th CAC
William was buried in the Cabanatuan prison cemetery – grave #5. After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 3, Grave 283 (D-D 12667). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Helmer A. Benson) Private First Class William R. Benson was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot D, Row 4, Grave 185.
~
Pvt. William R. Benson was one of four POWs who were executed by the Japanese after escaping from Cabanatuan #3. The other three were Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan, Cpl. Frederick L. Lee and Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman. All were from the 59th CAC Regiment. They escaped from the prison camp on 30 May 1942 but were caught later that same day. The men were brought back to the Japanese Camp “headquarters in a crouching position. They were obviously in extreme agony”. The next day 31 May 1942 they were “savagely tortured for several hours”. The men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot by a squad of Japanese riflemen. The other POWs in the camp had to watch their execution. “I then saw all the bodies covered with dirt”. M/Sgt. Frank C. Stecklein
Shot by the Japanese along with 3 others for attempting to escape Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1930 United States Federal Census (24 April 1930): McGowan, Cowlitz County, Washington (sheet 8A, family 180, 515 Pacific Highway) - W. Russel Benson (8 Washington).
1940 United States Federal Census (15 April 1940): East Los Angles, Montebello Township, Los Angeles County, California (sheet 62B, line 68, 1300 So Woods Avenue) - Russell Benson (18 Washington). His family had lived in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington in 1935. Russell had completed 3 years of high school. He was a coin machine operator.
William R. Benson (1922 Washington) enlisted as a Private (S/N 19048556) in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps on 20 September 1940 in Ft. MacArthur, San Pedro County, California. His enlistment was for the Philippine Department. William was single, he had completed 3 years of high school and had been working as an electrician.
He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, U.S. Army and sent to the Philippines. They were part of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th was placed on Fort Mills, Corregidor Island where they manned the Seacoast Artillery Guns. Pvt. Benson is found on the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment roster of 31 March 1941 on Corregidor.
He was captured by the Japanese when Corregidor was surrendered on 06 May 1942 and taken to Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3 in Nueva Ecija Province, Central Luzon. Shortly after arriving at camp he and three others tried to escape.
The four left Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3, May 30, They were apprehended later the same day. After they were recaptured, they were tortured. "...they were forced to straddle a large pole, their hands drawn down and tied underneath...they were kept there as the sun burned their exposed skin, mosquitoes and flies swarming everywhere." The next day (31 My 1942) the men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot and buried. The other POWs, in the camp, had to watch their execution.
"...much of the entire camp watched as the men were cut loose and forced to dig a trench. It was obvious as the men stood in the trench that a firing squad was about to execute them.
The Japs announced that the men had tried to escape and were now to be executed. One of the intended victims spit on the officer who was Lt. Col. Shigeji Mori, the camp commander. The firing squad shot them down. The man who spat struggled back up but was shot again, crumpling into the ditch. An officer stepped forward and put a bullet into the head of each man."
Source: Seaman First Class, USN Bruce Elliott
The men were:
Pvt. William R. Benson (27085487), Los Angeles, California - 59th CAC
Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan (56781148), Arlington, Texas - 59th CAC
Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman (82399825), Huntington, West Virginia - 59th CAC
Cpl. Frederick L. Lee (56749614), Big Spring, Texas - 59th CAC
William was buried in the Cabanatuan prison cemetery – grave #5. After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands – Block 4, Row 3, Grave 283 (D-D 12667). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (father, Mr. Helmer A. Benson) Private First Class William R. Benson was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot D, Row 4, Grave 185.
~
Pvt. William R. Benson was one of four POWs who were executed by the Japanese after escaping from Cabanatuan #3. The other three were Pvt. Wesley E. Jordan, Cpl. Frederick L. Lee and Pvt. Hugh E. Wellman. All were from the 59th CAC Regiment. They escaped from the prison camp on 30 May 1942 but were caught later that same day. The men were brought back to the Japanese Camp “headquarters in a crouching position. They were obviously in extreme agony”. The next day 31 May 1942 they were “savagely tortured for several hours”. The men were made to dig their own graves and stand in them. They were then shot by a squad of Japanese riflemen. The other POWs in the camp had to watch their execution. “I then saw all the bodies covered with dirt”. M/Sgt. Frank C. Stecklein
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