Benefield, Clifford E.

1923 - 2007  (84 years)

• Name	Benefield, Clifford E.
  		Clifford E. Benefield (1923-2007)
  Birth	26 Apr 1923	McClure, Alexander County, Illinois   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Reference Number	BENE.C002
  _FGRAVE	19395476
  Military Service	World War II, Corporal, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, United States Marine Corps  [2]
  	Enlisted and entered active service on October 28, 1941 at Saint Louis, Missouri. After basic training, served in Alaska from October 31, 1942 to March 24, 1944. Reassigned to and served as a Quartermaster with the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Western Pacific And Ryukyus Campaigns. Earned and held at various times during his tour of duty the special military qualifications of Clerk/Typist, Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Crewman and Drill Instructor. Earned The Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with multiple bronze battle stars and the WWII Victory Medal. Honorably discharged from The Depot Of Supplies, U.S. Marine Corps, San Francisco, California, as a Corporal (Line) (TW) on 13 November, 1945. (This information has been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website by Robert Medley Gatewood. It is entered here with his permission.) Source: https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=1983449
  		United States of America Flag, 48 Stars (1912-1959) In 1912, two stars were added to the United States flag, representing Arizona and New Mexico, bringing the total number of stars to 48. They were arranged in six rows of eight stars each. American fighting men would fight under this flag during four wars: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the beginning of the Vietnam War. (In 1959,…
  		Clifford E. Benefield (1923-2007)
  		United States Marine Corps
  		United States Marine Corps
  		Corporal, United States Marine Corps Pre-1918-1959
  		United States Marine Corps Rank Insignia
  		Military Service Ribbons, Benefield, Clifford E. (1923-2007) Contributed by Carl Wayne Gray
  		Good Conduct Medal, United States Marine Corps
  		Good Conduct Medal, United States Armed Forces
  		American Defense Service Medal, United States Armed Forces
  		American Defense Service Medal, United States Armed Forces
  		American Campaign Medal, United States Military
  		American Campaign Medal, United States
  		Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, United States Armed Forces
  		Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, United States Armed Forces
  		World War II Victory Medal, United States Military
  		World War II Victory Medal, United States Military
  		World War II (1939-1945)
  		1st Marine Division, United States Marine Corps
  		1st Marine Division, United States Marine Corps
  		5th Marine Regiment, United States Marine Corps
  		Brochure, World War II Memorial, Flora, Illinois, Nov 11, 2007 On Veterans' Day, 2005, the city of Flora, Illinois dedicated a memorial to all known Clay County, Illinois World War II Veterans. Located on the south side of the city library, this is a copy of the brochure honoring that event. This 2007 brochure adds a matrix for locating the memorial brick that was laid in honor of each veteran. …
  		World War II Honoree, Benefield, Clifford E. (1923-2007)
  Death	15 May 2007	Clay County Hospital, Flora, Clay County, Illinois   [1]
  Burial	Lindsey Cemetery, McClure, Alexander County, Illinois   [1]
  		Headstone, Benefield, Clifford E.
  		Headstone, Benefield, Clifford E.
  Person ID	I43198	Carl Wayne Gray Research
  Last Modified	10 Jun 2023

  
  

  Father	Benefield, G.
  Mother	McCluskey, I.
  Family ID	F16747	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Morss, Ruth L.,   b. 1932   d. 2012 (Age 80 years)
  Marriage	1950
  Age at Marriage	He was ~ 26 years and 8 months - She was ~ 18 years.
  Children	1. Benefield, Linda Kay,   b. 1950   d. 1951 (Age 1 year)   2. Benefield, Earl,   b. 1952   d. 1952 (Age 0 years)   3. Benefield, Merle,   b. 1952   d. 1952 (Age 0 years)   4. Benefield, Beverly A.,   b. 1956   d. 2007 (Age 51 years)
  Family ID	F16746	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 26 Apr 1923 - McClure, Alexander County, Illinois Death - 15 May 2007 - Clay County Hospital, Flora, Clay County, Illinois Burial - - Lindsey Cemetery, McClure, Alexander County, Illinois  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII, was employed for 22 years at Miller Chevrolet and served as deputy clerk with the Clay County Circuit Clerk's Office for 19 years. Cliff enjoyed boating and camping and his activities and memberships include the following: Flora Masonic Lodge #204 AF & AM, Belleville Consistory, Clay County Shrine Club, Marion County Shrine Club, Clay County Widgets, Flora American Legion Post #14, AMVETS, 49 year member of Xenia Fire Department and was past chief for 15 years, Clay County Sheriff's Patrol, Clay County Civil Defense, former Mayor of Xenia and past Xenia Board member, and was an area basketball referee for 35 years.

  
  

• Sources

  [S13556] findagrave.com, Headstone, Benefield, Clifford E., (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19395476/clifford-e.-benefield), none. (Reliability: 2). [S7664] World War II Honoree, Clifford E. Benefield, (https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=1983449) (Reliability: 2).