Wilmer Victor Bender

1917 - 1943  (25 years)

• Name	Wilmer Victor Bender
  Born	4 Jun 1917	Menno, Hutchinson County, South Dakota, USA
  Gender	Male
  Died	11 Mar 1943	New Guinea   [1, 2]
  Buried	Menno Cemetery, Menno, Hutchinson County, South Dakota, USA   [3]
  Person ID	I214949	Suedpfalz
  Last Modified	15 Jun 2014

  
  

  Father	Emanuel F. Bender,   b. 13 Sep 1892, South Dakota, USA ,   d. 14 Nov 1983, Menno, Hutchinson County, South Dakota, USA  (Age 91 years)
  Mother	Hulda Rosina Handel,   b. 1 Dec 1896, Menno, Hutchinson County, South Dakota, USA ,   d. 16 Dec 1990, Menno, Hutchinson County, South Dakota, USA  (Age 94 years)
  Married	27 Feb 1916	Menno, Hutchinson County, South Dakota, USA   [4]
  Family ID	F49358	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Wilmer Victor Bender born June 4, 1917 to Emmanuel (Emanuel) and Hulda (Handel) Bender at Menno, SD, Hutchinson County. He was baptized in the Salem Reformed Church and confirmed in the same church in 1932. Wilmer attended the menno Public Schools and graduatedd from high school in 1935. He attended the University of SD one yearin 1936 - 36 and the grand Island Business College for six months in 1938. Wilmer enlisted in the army and was called for inducted Jan. 27, 1941 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Later he was transferred to Camp Robinson, Arkansas. durin his training he was home on furlough twie, the last time at Christmas 1941. He left the states in january 1942 arriving in Australia in March. After eight months in Australia he was transferred to New Guinea in November 1942. His rank at the time of his death was Technician Fifth Grade with the Army Engineers. He was killed in action in defense of his country march 11, 1943. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously April 1, 1943. He is buried in a military cemetary in New Guinea. At the time of his death he was survived by his parents, a brother Oliver and sister Dorothy. The American Legion of Menno honored Maton Rames, the forst casualty of WWI, and Wilmer Bender, the first casualty of WWII by naming their post Rames - Bender Post 152. Information compiled by Dorothy (Bender) Koepsell - sister of Wilmer

  
  

• Sources

  [S255] World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas. Name: Wilmer V Bender Inducted From: South Dakota Rank: Technician Grade Five Combat Organization: 40th Engineers General Survey Regiment Death Date: 11 Mar 1943 Monument: Fort William Mckinley, Manila, the Philippines Last Known Status: Buried U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal [S8] Information from an informant - Auskunft eines Informanten - Information d'un informateur. Proposed Change: Wilmer Victor Bender (I214949)Tree: Südpfalz / Southern PalatinateLink: http://www.birkenhoerdt.net/getperson.php?personID=I214949&tree=SuedpfalzDescription: Go to the WWII Memorial site and do a search of Wilmer V. Bender. He is the first one (there are two).He died in New Guinea on the date you provided.Killed in action WWII:http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default.asp?page=registry.asp&subpage=searchclaire rassman claire rassman [S926] Find-A-Grave, (www.findagrave.com). Wilmer V Bender Birth: Jun. 4, 1917 South Dakota, USA Death: Mar. 11, 1943 Burial: Menno Cemetery Menno Hutchinson County South Dakota, USA Created by: Bill Ewing Record added: Mar 01, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 66331054 [S558] South Dakota Marriages, 1905-1949. Name: Emanuel F Bender Age: 23 Gender: Male Spouse: Hulda Handel Marriage Date: 27 Feb 1916 Marriage County: Hutchinson County of Residence: Hutchinson Post Office: Menno