A flag of honor flies Friday for a soldier whose remains were never recovered after a dangerous mission during World War II.
The family of Frank Vincent Benak only recently learned the details of his final days in 2016. For years after Benak was listed as missing in action, his family held out hope of finding him, searching Red Cross hospitals.
Benak was inducted into the U.S. Army on May 8, 1942, in Kalamazoo, Mich., and was assigned to 128th Infantry Division. After training in Camp Livingston, La., he was shipped out for overseas duty in the Southwest Pacific. He was a member of the Cannon Company, 32nd Red Arrow Division. He was killed during patrol on the "Urbana Front," volunteering for a dangerous mission that many of his group refused. He was listed MIA; his remains never recovered.
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Born May 23, 1917, to Vincent and Barbara Benak in Berwyn Ill., Frank Benak was the eldest of three sons including James and Joseph. He grew up helping his parents run their vegetable store in Chicago, Benak's Fruit and Vegetable Store. His parents withdrew him from school in ninth grade because he was such an asset. When Frank was a young adult, his folks sold the store on a land contract and moved to farm in Scottville, Mich. They returned to Chicago twice to resume ownership and operation of the store. In 1937, when Benak turned 20, he and his family moved to Scottville for the final time. He continued to help his parents run the farm and pursued his education through a correspondence course and attained his GED. He loved the violin and was quite talented. He took lessons and occasionally played with the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra. He also worked at a local cheese factory and went to auto body school in Detroit, Mich. He was working at a local auto body shop when he was drafted by the U.S. Army.
He is survived by his brother, Joseph (Antoinette) Benak, South Range; nephews, Frank (Mary) Benak, George (Mary Jo) Benak and nieces, Rose Benak Robinson; and many great nieces and great nephews. Other family members that have passed since his death include his parents, Vincent and Barbara; his brother, James; sister-in-law, Mildred; nephews, Joseph Frank Benak (Vietnam) and Edward Vincent Benak.
The flag for Benak is raised at 9 a.m. Friday, and lowered at 8:30 a.m. the following Friday.
The Flag of Remembrance Program, sponsored by the Richard I. Bong American Legion Post 435, honors the life and memory of one deceased veteran every week by flying a flag over the veterans center. Information on the veteran is on display at the center through the week.
For information about the program, contact John Vaski at (715) 394-7693 or the center at (715) 392-7151, or email info@bvhcenter.org or educator@bvhcenter.org .
