Benny Kumiyama Sanchez
Corporal
MORTAR BTRY, 2ND BN, 12TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Long Beach, California
November 11, 1946 to March 11, 1968
BENNY KUMIYAMA SANCHEZ is on the Wall at Panel 44E, Line 17

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Benny K Sanchez
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W Battery 2/12 Marines was attached to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines.

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Benny was liked and respected by the men he served with. He had just returned from R&R in Hawaii, where for five days he got to see for the first time his daughter with his wife. He and I were very close friends ... we planned that when I came home he would pick me up at the airport so I could stay over a few days and meet his family. I took the photo above - on the left is my "bunker buddy" LCpl Spada, Benny is in the center, and Cpl Windom (Windham?) is on the right.

I spoke and held Benny's hand while waiting for him to be medevaced back to Con Thien. I had to plead for the helicopters to come in because of the danger imposed at night. Tom Pacileo, also wounded that day, was with Benny when he passed away at a medical center. Tom, Bobby "Hobo" Hancox (on the same gun), and I still keep in touch - and we still remember the events that took place that day.


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