Two veterans reflect on military service as observance approaches

By Jon Echternacht

The 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month of 1918 marked the end of WWI, the war to end all wars. In the aftermath of the conflict, Americans set about to establish the day to honor the veterans who fought in the great conflict.

In 1921, an unknown WWI American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, which became a focal point of reverence for the nation's veterans. In 1926, a congressional resolution gave Nov. 11 the official name of Armistice Day. In 1938, a similar act of Congress established the date as a national holiday.

Had WWI truly been the war to end them all, American's may still be calling the holiday Armistice Day. It was later changed to Veterans Day to honor all those who served their country.

Two Hudson men, Dick Benoy, 86, an Army veteran of W.W.II and Don Colbeth, 64, a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War, know all too well war didn't stop for American servicemen in 1918.

Both are members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2115 of Hudson. The VFW of the United States has been named by proclamation of President Clinton as the host organization for Veterans Day. The VFW is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 1999.

Colbeth took time at his business early this week to reflect on his time in the service and what Veterans Day means to him. He has owned Don's Repair Service on the corner of Third and Vine Streets since 1961.

"I joined the Marines. A cousin of mine was a Marine who was killed at Iwo Jima," he said. "I lived on a farm seven miles east of Hudson. I joined up in my late teens."

Colbeth said he was shipped overseas on Nov. 23, 1953 and joined the 1st Marines in Korea. "I was with the 1st Marine Air Wing. The found out I was a ground pounder and sent me to the front lines."

He said he was in Korea for 17 months, which included one of the infamous winters in that country. "It was cold and we wore those bunny boots," he said.

Colbeth said was sent home in Jan. of 1954. "I was glad to get out and I was glad to get home," he said.

Benoy, who wandered into Don's shop during the conversation about service time, said he was in the Army in the South Pacific during WWII. "There were 57 of us who left Hudson for the Army on Oct. 15, 1940," he said.

Benoy said he joined the Army because, "it was hard to get a job in those days in Hudson. If you could get a job for a dollar a day, you were lucky."

Benoy was sent to Australia then on to New Guinea with the 32nd Division.

"New Guinea was the worst place in the world. It rained every night. I got malaria so bad I was taken out of the front lines," he said.

He said was discharged on July 25, 1945. "I came back home to Hudson as fast as I could get here."

The two veterans were asked to reflect on thier service experience and Veterans Day.

"I'm damn glad the veterans saved this country, Benoy said. "It would have been a tough row if it wasn't for the 32nd Division in New Guinea."

"On Veterans Day, I think a lot about those who died," Colbeth said. "I had two cousins and an uncle killed in WWII."

"I also wonder what ever happened to the friends I made in the Marines. Where are they now, what are they doing, would I even recognize them now," he said.

"But I feel better that I went through the Marines, sometimes I wish I would have stayed in," Colbeth added.