Regina Benson
Regina Benson joined the Army as an act of patriotic duty. She learned many relevant skills from nursing school and was passionate about serving her nation and comforting wounded soldiers. Benson was born in August 1920 and grew up in McLean, Virginia. In September 1944, not long after her graduation from nursing school, Benson and three other graduates enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps. Her brothers also served in the U.S. Armed Forces at that time.
Throughout her time serving, Benson was stationed in hospitals and operating rooms in Hawaii and Okinawa, Japan. She served from 1944 until she was honorably discharged as a second lieutenant in April 1946. Benson served through the Battle of Okinawa and almost capsized while traveling across the Pacific Ocean. Her shifts at Pacific Army hospitals consisted of 12-hour days; not only did she aid in medical care, but Benson’s priority was also to “give comfort to those troops who were dying.”
The conflicts raged on in Japan until their surrender on August 15, 1945. Benson recalled that Japanese troops in the hills were late to hear about the surrender; upon seeing American armed forces, they came down the hills and attacked. The official surrender agreement was signed on Sept. 2, 1945. After this, she and other troops were welcomed into Japanese homes. Benson remembers not only visiting their homes but also eating with them, sharing rations, and staying during the evenings.
During Benson’s service in Hawaii, she met her husband: Army 1st Lt. William Benson. William Benson started off as a supply officer and company commander but reached the rank of lieutenant colonel. Regina Benson left the military in 1946, continuing her career as a civilian nurse in Virginia. She “jumped for joy” upon the war’s end and the prospects of returning home to work as a civilian nurse and marrying William.
Currently, Benson is a member of the American Legion Post 270 in McLean, Virginia. She received the Armed Services YMCA’s Angel of Honor Award in 2020 to honor her service in the Pacific Theater during World War II. At her acceptance speech, Benson noted that she accepted this award not only for herself, but on behalf of all other medical personnel who served throughout the war. Reflecting on her years of service, she remarked that the most important and rewarding part was being able to tell the mothers of the young service men who died that they did not die alone, but that she was always by their side.
Regina is currently 102 years old and lives in McLean, Virginia, with her daughter Phyllis.
Thank you for your service, Regina Benson!
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Writer: Sarah McDonald
Editors: Pahal Ahuja, Christos Piliafas
Researcher: Loretta Knief
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Thank you so much for this story. It hit home as I was an Army Nurse who served in Vietnam from Oct ’68 to Oct ’69 in an Evac Hospital. It is so important to hear these stories & learn from them. Bless you all for your work in bringing our stories forward.
Mrs. Benson, thank you for your service. My dad served in the Pacific was wounded and was cared for by wonderful people like you. I was a medic in Vietnam and proud to have served in the Medical Corps, this is a great story, thanks for sharing.