Death certificate and grave marker for Benny W. McKinzie
in Forest Lawn West Cemetery, Charlotte (Mecklenburg county), North
Carolina
Benny registered for the draft ca. 1941 and entered service on 15 October
1942. a date which defined his service career as the 508th was activated 5
days later.
On 23 October he was transferred from the
Reception Center at Camp JT Robinson, Arkansas to Company C, 508rh PIR.
Pvt McKinzie was reported as missing in
action on 6 June 1944. His status was later changed to seriously
wounded in action. When he was released from the hospital he was
immediately transferred to Service Company.
He was promoted to Pfc on 20 June 1944.
On 11 October 1944, Pfc McKinzie was wounded
in action in Holland and evacuated to a field hospital. He
rejoined the company on 2 November,
Pfc McKinzie was listed as being in a
hospital on 26 December 1944 and termed a "non-battle casualty," a
term often applied to frostbite victims. He rejoined the company
on 25 January 1945.
Although his records do not explain the
reason, he was included on General Order 200 as one of 31 ex-POWs sent
home early on points system.
His military decorations include the Purple Heart with 1 OLC and
the Bronze Service Arrowhead device awarded for participation in
Normandy assault and Airborne operations
