James R. Benton
   James Ray Benton, 70, of 5206 Cypress Road, Fayetteville, died Monday in his home.
   He was an Army veteran. He retired as a warehouseman with the civil service.
  The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday in Lafayette j Baptist Church by Dr. Brian Lee. Burial will be in Lafayette Memorial Park.
   Mr. Renton is survived by his wife, Ellen T. Benton of the home; two sons, James Thomas "Tom" Benton of Fayetteville and Robert Tew "Rob" Benton of Apex; a daughter, Sue B. Vines of Raleigh; three brothers, Don Benton of Winston-Salem, Alvin E. Benton of Garland and Robert "Bobby" Benton of High Point; five sisters. Elizabeth B. Nealeans of High Point, Kathleen B. Carter of Penhook, Va., Evelyn B. Johnson of Ingold. Doris "Dot" Blackmon of Garland; and Lou Carol Morrison of Winston-Salem; and four grandchildren.
   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Catch The Vision; care of Lafayette Baptist Church, 301 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville 28304.

Fayetteville Observer-Times Wednesday. December 2,1992

(courtesy of Larry Gaylord)

Grave marker for James R. Benton in Plot 88 of the Lafayette Memorial Park, Fayetteville (Cumberland county), North Carolina.
   James enlisted at Fort Bragg, NC on 2 Oct 1942 and was assigned to Company A, 508th PIR.
   He parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and again into Holland for Operation Market-Garden, 17 September 1944.  although he came through 33 days of combat in France unscathed, he was severely wounded on his second day on Holland.  according to Sgt James Blue, "James Blue wrote: "Benton received approximately seventeen MG bullet wounds in the right arm, side and leg ... He did not return to unit."
   In fact, after more than two months in a field hospital, Pfc Benton was transferred back to Ft Benning for further medical care.