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MAJ Mark E Cooper
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Reese, Benjamin Charles (Abn Test Plt), CW4.
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Contact Info
Last Address Columbus, GA
Date of Passing Mar 19, 2009
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Last Known Activity:
CW4 (Ret) Benjamin Charles Reese
February 28, 1917 - March 19, 2009 COLUMBUS, GA Benjamin Charles Reese, 92, of Columbus, Georgia, beloved husband, father, and grandfather died on March 19, 2009. Mr. Reese died peacefully at Columbus Hospice after a short illness and was surrounded by family. Visitation will take place at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Macon Road, on March 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m. March 25, 2009, at the Airborne Walk at Ft. Benning's Eubanks Field., followed by interment at the Main Post Cemetery. Mr. Reese was born on February 28, 1917 in Early County, Georgia to Charles and Genevieve Reese and grew up in Jakin, Georgia. He graduated from Jakin High School in 1934 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1939. Mr. Reese served proudly and with honor as a member of the original Airborne Test Platoon that pioneered U.S. Army airborne operations. His World War II service with the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, included combat jumps into Normandy and Holland. Additionally, he served with the 65th Infantry Regiment in the Korean War. Mr. Reese continued serving his nation for more than 30 years, retiring in 1969 as a Chief Warrant Officer Four from the Infantry School at Ft. Benning. His awards include the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge (2d Award) and Parachutist's Wings with Combat Stars. After retirement from the Army, Mr. Reese served as an instructor at the Military Occupational Specialty Supply/Logistics Course, Ft. Benning for an additional 13 years. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Verne Reese, two sons, Benjamin S. Reese (Yvonne) of Ft. Mitchell and Chaplain (Colonel) David Reese (Alice) currently of Washington, D.C., and three grandchildren, Bill Reese (Kelly) of Atlanta, Amy Dismukes (Derryl) of Columbus, and Caitlin Reese of Franklin Springs, GA. The family would like to give special thanks to Martin Army Community Hospital and the Columbus Hospice House for the extraordinary care given during his final days and to those who came alongside them in prayer. They would also like to thank the members of the 1/507 Parachute Infantry Regiment for providing military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages those who desire to make a contribution in Mr. Reese's name to do so to the charity of their choice.
Korean War/First UN Counteroffensive (1951)/Operation Killer
From Month/Year
February / 1951
To Month/Year
March / 1951
Description
The 2nd Division jumped-off on "Operation Killer" on 22 February. The initial advance was slow, not so much due to resistance as to terrain. The sector assigned to the 2nd Division presented enormous problems. However, by 1700 hours both the 9th and 38th Infantry Regiments had reached the Chuchon River where swift waters and a lack of bridges delayed crossing. The engineers constructed a foot bridge for immediate use of the 9th Infantry and, in the 23rd Infantry Regiment's zone of advance, tanks of the regimental tank company were used to ferry people to the north bank. The 9th Infantry ran into moderate resistance on 23 February but with all three battalions teaming up, an enemy force of 2,000 was routed, dispersed to the north, leaving their dead and wounded behind. The Second Battalion of the 23rd Infantry, with the 37th Infantry FA Bn attached, moved east into the 7th Division zone on 26 February in preparation for an attack on the following day on Ungyo-ri, an important town on the Hoengsong-Pangnimni road. The 9th Infantry, after securing Haanhung-ni, west of Ungyo-ri, sent a battalion eastward along the road in anticipation of an enemy withdrawal from Ungyo-ri when the Second Battalion of the 23rd Infantry launched its assault. The evening of this last day of February found the 2nd Division in positions astride the Hoengsong-Pangnimni road in its sector and preparing to continue its advance to Phase Line Arizona which paralleled the road roughly 7,000 meters to the north. Ahead of the Division were strong elements of the 17th and 18th CCF Divisions and lesser elements of the III and V North Korean Corps which were retreating slowly to the north in the face of the grinding X Corps offensive. Intelligence reports indicated the foe intended to delay the advance as much as possible while he prepared fixed defenses north of the 38th parallel. "Operation Ripper," was designed to carry UN forces to the 38th Parallel. Similar to "Operation Killer" it aimed at maximum destruction of enemy personnel and equipment with minimal friendly casualties. It wasn't the character of the opposition so much, although at times throughout the month it was fanatic and as strong as any ever faced. It was the terrain, coupled with alternate spring thaws, rains and days of sub-zero freezes which hampered every activity and wrought unprecedented burdens on every unit and operation. The operation concluded by the end of March.
