Finding Aid for the Vester A. Benson First World War correspondence 2018.145.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
10/17/2018
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Vester A. Benson First World War correspondence
Creator:
Benson, Vester Alvin, Corporal, 1895-1965
source:
Jackson, Verlyn, Mr.
Identifier/Call Number: 2018.145.w.r
Physical Description:
0.075 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date: 1918 June 26
Abstract: This collection contains one letter written by Cpl. Vester A. Benson, USA to his brother Floyd and his wife Clara from a base
hospital during the First World War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWI 3
Container: 16
Container: 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Verlyn Jackson, great nephew of Vester Benson
Corporal Vester Alvin Benson, American Expeditionary Force (12/14/1895 - 1/18/1965) was born and raised in Creston, Iowa.
He served during the First World War with Company 'C', 168th Infantry until his injury in 1918. Cpl. Benson wrote to his brother
and his wife, Floyd and Claire "Clara" Benson. The little girl mentioned at the end of the letter is their daughter Catherine,
the mother of the donor Verlyn Jackson.
A year after the war he married Joy Love Porter on March 22, 1919 and continued to live in Iowa until he passed away in 1965.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Vester A. Benson First World War correspondence (2018.145.w.r), Center for
American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains one letter from Corporal Vestor A. Benson, USA to his brother and sister-in-law, Floyd and Clara,
from a base hospital in France during the First World War. Cpl. Benson describes in detail the events that led to his injury
and his experience in the hospital, including the silent raid, meaning no preliminary artillery fire, by the Germans at dusk
while his automatic rifle squad stood their post waiting for them. Upon the German retreat, one let loose an "egg," or grenade,
and it exploded at Cpl. Benson's feet. He received shrapnel in his feet, left leg, and left arm and required several surgeries
to remove the half-pound of shrapnel that led the nurse to call him "Iron Man." Also mentioned was the experience of the
drugs given him for surgery and taking x-rays of his body.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1914-1918)
World War (1914-1918) -- France
Battle casualties
World War (1914-1918) -- Casualties
World War (1914-1918) -- Hospitals.
Jackson, Verlyn, Mr.