During World War II, Alaska was a territory of the United States. In 1939, Congress enacted the Panama-Hawaii-Alaska defense triangle. The US began construction of naval bases, roads and an Army Air Force landing strip near Yakutat. This was an area where Tlingit indigenous people lived. The Alaska National Guard was activated in September of 1941.

Six months after Pearl Harbor, in June of 1942, the Japanese bombed the naval base at Dutch Harbor and Fort Mears near Unalaska, Alaska. The Japanese occupied Attu and Kiska, two Aleutian Islands. The US military then evacuated the Aleutian Islanders to mainland of Alaska. The military also began locating anyone of Japanese descent and removed them to concentration camps in the United States. 

Private Byron Roderick Bennet Jr. served with the US Army in Alaska during World War II during this time.

Byron Roderick Bennet Jr was born on March 3, 1918 to Bryon Sr. and Sylvia (Karlen) Bennett in Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin. Byron had a twin brother named David born on the same day.

From the 1920 US Census, the Bennett family lived in Monroe. The household included father Byron, mother Sylvia, and twin sons Byron R. Jr. and David. They rented their house on Russell Street in Monroe. Father Byron was a dentist working on his own account.

From the 1930 & 1940 US Census, the Bennett family lived in a house they owned on Nineteenth Avenue in Monroe. Father Byron worked as a dentist. On the 1940 US Census, son Byron had 1 year of college and was a laborer at a drugstore.

On October 16, 1940, Byron Roderick Bennett Jr. registered for the WWII Draft. He was living at home in Monroe and was employed at Badger Brodhead Cheese Company in Monroe.

Bennett enlisted for service in World War II on June 5, 1941 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

In the September 30, 1942 The Capital Times article titled “Monroe Doctor’s Son Dies in Alaska,” the article stated “Pvt. Byron R. Bennett, Jr., son of Dr. and Mrs. Bennett of Monroe, died at a hospital at Alaska Tuesday night, according to word received here by his parents. He had been ill a short time. Late last week the parents received word of their son’s grave illness and that he had been transferred to an Alaska hospital.”

From the October 1, 1942 Wisconsin State Journal obituary for “Pfc. Byron Bennett,”{sic: Private} the article stated, “Pfc. Byron Bennett, Jr., 24, son of Dr. and Mrs. Byron Bennett, Sr., Monroe, died Tuesday at Yakutat, Alaska after an illness, his parents were informed Wednesday.

Pfc. Bennett was born March 3, 1918 in Monroe, was graduated from Monroe high school in 1936, and attended the University of Wisconsin in 1937 and 1938. At one time he was employed by the Brodhead-Badger Cheese Co., and before leaving for service was radio operator for the Green county police force…

Pfc. Bennett left for service June 3, 1941 going to Camp Grant, Ill., Camp Roberts, Calif, and Camp Murray, Wash. Since February, he had been stationed in Alaska.

Survivors include his parents; a brother, Dr. David Bennett, lieutenant junior grade, Great Lakes Naval Training station, Ill., and his grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. C. W. Bennett, Monroe.”

Private Byron R. Bennett Jr. is listed on the Green County World War II Honor Roll. His death status was DNB — Died Non-battle. Private Bennett was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Monroe.

Thank you, Private Byron Roderick Bennett Jr., for your service to and sacrifice for this country.