Chuck Benesh
WWII Silver Star
& Purple Heart
Chuck Benesh was born June 1, 1906 near Solon , Iowa. He entered the United States Army February 12, 1942 and was assigned to Battery A, 987th Field Artillery Battalion as part of the gun crew on a M-12, 155mm self-propelled gun. On November 18,1944 near Stolberg, Germany they were assigned a direct fire mission on a German fortified position. During this action five men were killed and five were wounded out of a gun crew of 14 men engaged. For his heroism, Chuck was awarded a Purple Heart and a Silver Star Medal. Other awards included Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one Silver Battle Star and one Bronze Service Arrowhead for battles at Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe, three Overseas Bars and one Service Strip. After his discharge in October 1945, Chuck farmed east of Solon, Iowa until his death April 18, 1976.
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