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Benson, David, Sgt.
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David R. Benson, 91, of 101 Baxter Ave., Lakewood, died at 8:10 p.m. Friday (Sept. 5, 2008) in Absolut Care in Westfield, with his daughter at his side.
He was born April 21, 1917, in Ramseytown, Pa., the son of Andrew and Anna Benson.
David was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Army Aircorp 36th Depot Squadron in Northern Africa and Italy, sailing to his destination aboard the Queen Mary.
For many years, he was employed by the Panama Central School System and the former Jamestown General Hospital. He was a member of the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club and the Lakewood Memorial Post 1286 American Legion.
An avid golfer, David played until he was 90 years old. He enjoyed music, walks, his cats, feeding the birds, and watching old movies and game shows. He was a kind and gentle soul and a devoted family man. The only friends he didn't have were the ones he hadn't met yet.
Surviving are his daughter, Cynthia (Meb) Dennis of Ashville, N.Y.; two grandchildren: Laurie (Brian) Moore of Jamestown and Steven (Shawn) Dennis of Austin, Texas; and four great-grandchildren: Mitchell and Grant Moore, both of Jamestown, and Harrison and Brandi Dennis, both of Austin.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane Anderson Benson, whom he married Aug. 15, 1942, and who died Jan. 20, 2006; and nine siblings.
The funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Monday in the Lind Funeral Home. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown, NY, 14701 or Hospice Chau-tauqua County, 4840 West Lake Road, Mayville, NY, 14757.
Other Comments:
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Sicily Campaign (1943)
From Month/Year
July / 1943
To Month/Year
August / 1943
Description (Sicily Campaign 9 July to 17 August 1943) In preparation for the invasion of Sicily the Allies captured the islands in the Sicilian strait, with aerial bombardment forcing the capitulation of Pantelleria on 11 June 1943. By that time Allied air power had begun the attack on Sicily by bombing defenses and airfields. The invasion itself got under way on the night of 9/10 July with airborne landings that were followed the next day by an amphibious assault. The enemy offered strong resistance, but the Allies had superiority in the air and soon had planes operating from Sicilian bases to support Montgomery’s Eighth Army and Patton’s Seventh.
Interdictory operations against communications in Italy and between Italy and Sicily convinced the enemy that it would be impossible to move strong reinforcements. By 17 August 1943 the Allies were in possession of the island, but they had not been able to prevent a German evacuation across the Strait of Messina.