Benjamin T. Sieckert
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Benjamin T. Sieckert entered the Army on July 25, 1942 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota.
He served as a Technician Fifth Grade and medical technician with the 20th Field Hospital of the Second Convalescent Hospital of the Seventh Infantry Division and 32nd Infantry Division; and the 75th, 79th, 30th and Eighth Armored Divisions. Served in Rhineland, Central Europe, and the Aleutian Islands.
Mr. Sieckert recalls; "Arrived in England September 15, 1944, then went to France and Holland. After six days and five nights on the 40 & 8 [railroad boxcars], we arrived in Belgium on October 14. V-1 rocket was ever-present. December 17 we suffered our first casualties.
"Moved with 35th Infantry Division and Eighth Armored into Germany. April 17, 1945, the 20th Field Hospital was sent to Halberstad, Germany, offering hospitalization to German political prisoners liberated at Zwieberge Iaga concentration camp in Longenstein, Germany.
"April 28, 1945, the census reached 1,061 patients, 600 over capacity for a field hospital. Unit officially closed June 2, 1945. All patients air-lifted to general hospitals."
He was awarded the following: Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Service Medal with three bronze battle stars, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and 6 overseas service bars.
He was honorably discharged on December 13, 1945, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 293.
