Private First Class BILLY JACK BENNETT KIA 38520151

Private First Class BILLY JACK BENNETT KIA 38520151, U. S. Army. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Zack Bennett, 142 Albany Street, Shreveport Louisiana. Brother of Lieutenant (jg) ZACK H. BENNETT, JR. He was born March 27, 1924, and attended Byrd High School and Centenary College prior to induction September 16, 1943. From Camp Beauregard he was assigned to Camp Fannin, Texas, for infantry basic. After four months’ training he was sent to Fort Ord and Camp Stone, California, for overseas staging, and was assigned to the famed 77th Infantry Division (Statue of Liberty) 306th Infantry Regiment. On March 10, 1944, he embarked for the Pacific Theater (PTO), qualifying as an expert infantryman at Honolulu. He fought in the Invasion of Guam July 20, 1944, then fought on an outpost at Leyte and was in combat in the invasion of Leyte December 7, 1944, landing on Ormoc Beaches and fighting through the entire operation, then invading Kerama on March 26, 1945. He fought in the taking of nine islands in the Ryukyus Group. He was in the Invasion of le Shima April 16, 1945, and fought until he was killed in action April 20, 1945, on le Shima. This gallant young infantryman of the 77th had four bronze Campaign Stars, Expert Rifle and Combat Infantry Badges, the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding performance of duty in action, and the Purple Heart for Military Merit and the wounds which resulted in his death.

 

Source:

1- THE FIGHTING MEN OF LOUISIANA – LOUISIANA HISTORICAL INSTITUTE – 1946

2- US Headstone and Interment records for US Military.