May 29th marked the first time I ever attended a Memorial Day event, so I have no room to criticize how others observe the occasion. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying that holiday. We seem, however, to increasingly ignore its original intent of honoring those who gave their lives for our country. 

Recent columns about Vietnam prompted Bo Dolph to contact me. Bo was a few grades ahead of me at Unadilla High School, but with 20 to 25 students per class we knew everyone. He extended an invitation to a Memorial Day service at Liberty Baptist Church.

Private Don C. Benfield grew up in Macon. In 1967 he was buried an hour south of there in his grandparents’ plot in Dooly County. His mother, Elva Peavy Benfield, was later interred just to his right. His twin sister, Dianne Benfield Newberry, was placed on his left. 

David Peavy, another Unadilla High graduate, was walking through Liberty’s cemetery one day and noticed a headstone with his family’s surname. After seeing Don Benfield’s grave, he and Bo wanted to do something to remember a fellow Vietnam veteran they never met and felt had been overlooked. Bo asked Mike Bowden and the Unadilla Lions Club to help make it happen.

There were no programs handed out, just a picture of Private Benfield. “He was a good looking young man,” someone accurately commented. The following information is from various websites and is very limited. Personal accounts are hard to find after 56 years.     

“Don Curtis Benfield, Private, F Company, 2ND Battalion, 4TH Marines, 3RD Marine Division. United States Marine Corps. February 18, 1945 to April 08, 1967. Eight men from Fox Company, 2/4 Marines, were killed in action on 08 April 1967.” The list of names was followed by an excerpt from a Navy Cross awarded posthumously to one of them.

“Private First Class James A Popp’s squad was conducting a squad-size patrol against the Viet Cong forces in Quang Nam Province. While moving along a trail in search of the enemy, the squad was suddenly taken under a murderous volume of small-arms, hand grenade and 40 millimeter grenade fire. The heavy volume of fire rained in from three sides,…”

Don graduated from Lanier High School for Boys in 1962 and later attended Dudley M. Hughes Vocational School in Macon. His sister, Dianne, died July 14, 2003, at age 58. No children or siblings were listed in her obituary, just a mention that her twin brother preceded her in death. I don’t know much about him, except he died at 22 serving his country.

Mike Bowden welcomed the small crowd, which included a number of veterans. A nice breeze and shade from the church building provided a welcoming venue. Gary Fowler opened with prayer. Rebecca Carver sang the national anthem as the color guard from the Marine base in Albany stood watch.

Dan Bray played “The Marine Hymn” on his bagpipes early in the service. Near the end he reminded us of God’s “Amazing Grace.” The tranquil tones added a special reverence as a fallen soldier was remembered in a country cemetery.

Rodney Brannen, keynote speaker, talked about the countless stories of sacrifice made in multiple wars, noting Don Benfiled was among them. “His sacrifice is just one of many examples of why each of us should always remember what the cost of freedom truly is and how many of our nation’s sons and daughters have paid that price.”

It’s unclear what people who have died are allowed to see. Hebrews 12:1 mentions “a great cloud of witnesses,” so maybe some things are made known. I hope Private Benfield and his family watched from above and felt especially blessed, but that’s just wishful speculation. There is, however, another compelling reason to have such observances. 

As I shook hands with the veterans who were there, some of them friends since school days, I realized that morning’s service was also a way of honoring the ones who are with us. By remembering those who gave all for our country, we show respect to others who were willing to do the same.  

I can’t say what I’ll be doing next year, but because of an almost forgotten soldier I have a different perspective of Memorial Day. So to Bo, David, Jerry, Don, Harry, Perry, Larry, Frank, and any veterans I’ve overlooked from Private Benfield’s service, thanks for going when your country called. And thanks for coming home.