June 1, 1920 (Circleville, WV) – November 30, 1944; 24 years old
Married to the former Edna Allen (1920-2001), of 568 South Compo Road in Westport on May 11, 1940
Two sons Wayne Jr. (1941-2015) and Gary (1942-present).
Last local address: 208 Fairview Avenue, Norwalk
Enlisted April 22, 1944
Service number: 35834442
Unit: 104th Infantry Division (Timberwolves), 414th Regiment
Born to George Bennett (1880-) and Evelyn Bennett (1902-1973). One sister, Ruby Jacqueline Bennett Willis (1921-?).
Portrait provided by Kim Pearce, great-niece of Wayne Everett Bennett.
His home address was Akron, Ohio when he enlisted on April 22, 1944. He was officially listed as an Ohio resident when KIA. Died just 7 months after enlistment.
From facesbeyondthegraves.com about 104th Infantry in November 1944: “On 16 November the 104th attacked, taking Stolberg and pushing on against heavy resistance. Eschweiler fell on the 21st and the enemy was cleared from the area west of the Inde River, including Inden, by 2 December. Lucherberg was held against enemy counterattacks on 3 December, and all strongholds west of the Roer (Ruhr) River were captured by the 23rd.”
From The Bridgeport Post, December 9, 1944
The body of Pvt. Wayne Bennett, 208 Fairview Avenue, who was killed in Germany on November 30, 1944, while serving in Aachen with the 104th (Timberwolf) division, will be returned here Wednesday on the 12:23 p.m. train, and escorted to the Magner funeral home, 12 Mott Avenue, by the White Fleet committee of veteran organizations. Services will take place Thursday at 2 p.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. James N. Zeigler, pastor of the Community Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the American Legion plot, Riverside cemetery. Pvt. Bennett is survived by his wife, Mrs. Edna Bennett of Norwalk; and two sons, Wayne Jr., and Gary.
From The Norwalk Hour December 20, 1944
Private Wayne Bennett, a former resident of this city and husband of a Westport girl, was killed in action with the U.S. Infantry in Germany, early this month, according to word received from the War Department. Bennett while living here, married Miss Edna Allen, daughter of Policeman, and Mrs. Winfield S. Allen of 568 South Compo Road, Westport. They have two children, Wayne Allen Bennett, four, and Gary Lee Bennett, three. The Bennetts moved to Akron, Ohio where he was inducted into service last May. Private Bennett went overseas in November, stopping in England before joining the fighting in France, Belgium, and then Germany. Mrs. Bennett and her children will remain in Akron over the holidays and then expect to return to Westport. Mrs. Bennett has two brothers in the service, John, with the U.S. Army in the Southwest Pacific, and Richard, a Marine, who was wounded in Tarawa. Richard is now on furlough and visiting his parents, Policeman and Mrs. Allen in Westport.
Private Bennett is buried in Riverside Cemetery, 81 Riverside Avenue, Norwalk, CT; Section 11, Plot 1. Photo by webmaster.
END
Honor Norwalk CT veterans 