Benjamin Whitaker was 17 years old when he joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 during World War II. He was assigned to a Destroyer Escort in the Atlantic Ocean that hit a reef and sank while searching for enemy submarines along the coast line. Even though he was in the Navy and on a big ship, Benjamin could not swim, so he held onto debris floating in the ocean. The rescue of the sailors was aided by dirigibles in the air that were searching for submarines; luckily they were able to see the disabled ship and crew from their vantage point. He was later was assigned to a LST (Landing Ship, Tank: ships built during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks) and also served on another Destroyer Escort in the Pacific Ocean that was on continuous reconnaissance until the end of the war.

After WWII, Benjamin attended college in Rochester, New York, and became an Officer in the U.S. Air Force. He was a Navigator on B-29s, B-36s and B-52s during his Air Force career. He was assigned to Carswell A.F.B., Texas as a Navigator during the Korean War. He was a Navigator during the Cuban Missile Crisis while at Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico and during the Cold War while at Loring A.F.B. in Maine. He was a Logistics Officer for the SR-71 during the Vietnam War while at Beale A.F.B. in Northern California, spending most of the time on Okinawa.

Benjamin retired from the U.S.A.F. in 1974 after the end of the war in Vietnam and returned to Texas!

Submitted by Jackie Johnson
Life Engagement Manager
Autumn Leaves of Cityview