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| 1st Lt. Walter Bentley earned the Bronze Star with the 1st Marine Division on the first day of the Battle of Peleliu. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49146303/walter-frank-bentley https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Photo-US-Marines-Coming-Ashore-Peleliu-Landing-1944-World-War-2-WW2-1191-/264191945539 |
Walter Frank "Bear" Bentley never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
Walter was born on March 9, 1920 in Casper Wyoming. His parents Theodore and Lena were born in New York and Indiana, respectively. His father worked as a construction laborer and died in the 1920s. Lena found work as a housemaid. Walter had two older brothers. In high school he was a football star on two championship teams. By 1940 Walter had completed three years of college at the University of Wyoming, were he played football all three year. He found work as a messenger and a Yellowstone forest ranger. While at college he participated in ROTC.
He enlisted in the US Marines in October 1942. He became a first lieutenant in Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He probably joined his unit in Australia and was part of the Cape Gloucester and New Britain campaigns.
On September 15, 1944 the 1st Marine Division landed on Peleliu, a battle that was supposed to last four days but ended up taking more than two months at the cost of more than 10,000 American casualties, included 2,336 killed. Lt. Bentley was one of the first to die and his actions that day resulted in a posthumous Bronze Star.
Lt. Bentley's citation reads as follows:
When his company was momentarily held up by intense enemy machine-gun fire during a vigorous attack on a number of pillboxes, First Lieutenant Bentley promptly and courageously directed his right platoon in a flanking movement and despite the increasing violence of hostile fire, valiantly continued to lead the attack from his perilous and exposed position until mortally wounded by Japanese machine-gun fire.
First Lieutenant Bentley's fearless leadership and unyielding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Thank you Lt. Bentley for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Walter.
Last year on this date I profiled Iwo Jima fallen and Silver Star hero James Mayenschein, 5th Marine Division. You can read about James here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
First Lieutenant Bentley's fearless leadership and unyielding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
His grave is at Highland Cemetery in Caspar, Wyoming.
Last year on this date I profiled Iwo Jima fallen and Silver Star hero James Mayenschein, 5th Marine Division. You can read about James here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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