Gregory Rea Benton, Jr., Sergeant, United States Marine Corps

Gregory Rea Benton, Jr.
Sergeant, United States Marine Corps

Full Name: GREGORY REA JR BENTON
Date of Birth: 4/18/1950
Date of Casualty: 5/23/1969
Home of Record: VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA
Branch of Service: MARINE CORPS
Rank: SSGT
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
Casualty Province: QUANG TRI
Status: MIA

GR Benton PHOTO

BENTON, GREGORY REA JR
SSGT US MARINE CORPS
VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 08/29/1968 - 05/23/1969
DATE OF BIRTH: 04/18/1950
DATE OF DEATH: 05/23/1969
DATE OF INTERMENT: 05/23/1969
BURIED AT: SECTION MF (Memorial Section F) SITE 46-A-8
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Hi Michael,

Thank you for the e-mail. Yes, I am requesting the headstone for Arlington National Cemetery. I put in the request last year through HQMC Casualty and they mailed me the form. I received a call from someone at Arlington sometime after May, 2003 asking for more info and at that time the lady told me it should only take a few months for the VA to get the headstone. I want to have a ceremony for my brother at Arlington and many of the DPMO personnel want to attend the ceremony, also. I just returned from a family member update in Phoenix, Arizona, where I was able to get more information on my brother's case and they think they have found two farmers in Laos who remember finding my brother's body 34 years ago. We are getting close to finding his remains now and I just want to be ready when it happens. The government officials from the POW/MIA section at the Pentagon are more like family to me after all these years and they take very good care of me. They are just as anxious to find my brother as I am. I just want to bring my Native American brother home and give him a final resting place of honor at Arlington. As a 100% disabled veteran I am hoping I can someday be burried with him. Two Staff Sergeant Benton's...one Marine and one Army. Thank you again for your help. Mary Benton.

On May 23, 2003 I mailed a VA Form 40-1330 (Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker) for my brother who is Missing In Action in Vietnam. I was told it would only take a few months for the VA to approve the headstone. I haven't heard anything to date. Could someone please contact me with an update. Thank you.

Mary E. Benton

Indio, CA 92201
I am the Primary Next of Kin for my brother:
Gregory R. Benton, Jr., USMC

MIA May 23, 1969 In Vietnam
SSGT Gregory R. Benton, Jr.
United States Marine Corps Company D, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division

Posted: 26 June 2004 Updated: 27 August 2005