LTJG JOHN L. BENTON, USN

Class 1942

Born October 1, 1920

Died March 5, 1943

Age 22

Hometown Hamlet, North Carolina

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1942 Lucky Bag:

JOHN LEWIS BENTON

Chick, Happy

Battalion Soccer; Battalion Tennis; 1 Stripe.

Reveille never fazes Chick, being a quiet, unassuming “Southern Gentleman” to whom life is just one more problem. With an infinite capacity for good-natured fun and hard work, he overcomes all difficulties. Never a snake in any sense, his determined modesty precludes any mention of his victims among the fairer sex. This modesty, his dependability and common sense insure him well deserved success in the Fleet.

The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.

Loss

Blaine was lost when USS Grampus (SS 207) was sunk, likely on March 5, 1943 by Japanese destroyers.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

John graduated with honors from Hamlet High School in 1937 and then attended Marion Military Institute.

After graduating from the Naval Academy, he immediately went into the submarine service. He was an officer on the Grampus at Pearl Harbor in January, 1942. He won commendation from the commander of the Pacific fleet.

Besides his mother, the former Mamie O’Brien, John was survived by his aunts Hattie Benton and Mrs. Lydia Griffin of Monroe, North Carolina, and Mrs. Sallie Kager of Mississippi. His father, John Carl Benton, had previously died from a heart attack in June 1940. He had operated a department store for 15 years.

His mother was listed as next of kin.

John is remembered at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

From The News and Observer on March 24, 1943

Class of 1942

John is one of 81 members of the Class of 1942 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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