1916 – 2015

AUBURN — Col. George Cobb Benjamin, 99, of Auburn, passed away on Christmas morning, Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, at the Clover Manor Hospice in Auburn with his beloved wife of 58 years at his bedside.

George was born to Rutherford and Florence Cobb Benjamin of Lee, Mass., on Sept. 2, 1916, in Pittsfield, Mass. After graduating from Lee High School in 1935, he attended Massachusetts State College (later known as the University of Massachusetts) in Amherst, Mass., where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical and biological sciences (pre-med.) He also completed four years of Horse Cavalry ROTC preparation for an Army career for which he was awarded the Distinguished Cadet Medal upon graduation in 1939. In light of the world situation at the time, he elected military service upon graduation in lieu of medical school. He was commissioned to a regular Army career in 1940 as a result of successful one-year active-duty competition under provisions of the Thomason Act. He was assigned to duty with the 1st Squadron, 3rd Horse Cavalry Regiment, Fort Ethan Allen, Vt. Regimental orders took him to Fort Myer, Va., where he was assigned as platoon leader and designated officer in charge of the White House stables under the command of (then) Col. George S. Patton.

During his military career, he further advanced his college education by numerous pertinent post-graduate courses offered by military and university sources, to include the U.S Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., (executive course). During 30 years of service, 13 years were in command assignments at all levels from platoon leader to regimental and combat command commander. Included were cavalry, armored infantry, tank and armor units, reconnaissance, constabulary, nine months of which were in active combat in Europe. Staff assignments included department director at the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; chief of staff, the Armor Training Center, Fort Knox, Ky.; chief of staff, 4th Armored Division in Germany; deputy for operations and training, Observation of Desert Rock, 6th Army Headquarters, Presidio of Calif.; president of the U.S. Army Maintenance Board, Fort Knox, Ky.; deputy chief of staff, I Corps (Group), Korea, and acting chief of maintenance, the Army Materiel Command, Washington, D.C. During World War II, George served with the 5th Armored Division, commanding the 85th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron and fought in five campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge. He was proud of his men.

In 1945, at the age of 28, he received a battlefield promotion to lieutenant colonel. During the Korean conflict, he served in GHQ and Joint Staff in the United Nations, Far East Command. Among the 19 awards and decorations he received were the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, French Croix de Guerre with Gold Star, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and five Campaign Stars.

Records and letters of commendation in his personal file indicate that George had an impressive military career. He took pride in serving his country.

A highlight of being selected for numerous official military assignments to serve as a temporary special aide or briefer to notables during George’s 30-year U.S. Army career occurred when he was a young 2nd lieutenant, a platoon leader in the 35th Horse Cavalry stationed at Fort Myer, Va., when he received an invitation to have lunch with General of the Army George Marshall. Shortly after lunch, he was assigned as a special aide to the White House as an escort to the highly respected, charming and gracious wife of the president of the United States, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, when she wished to ride her horse “Charlie,” a Tennessee walking horse, or George’s horse “Elizabeth” along the trails on the bank of the Potomac River.

Upon retirement from active duty in 1969, he was appointed as a GS-15 consultant to the commanding general of the Army Materiel Command as team chief of Logistics Group in Taiwan for seven months. At the age of 96, George was privileged and honored to represent the 5th Armored Division as its senior living regimental commanding officer from World War II and to deliver the final remarks to close out the unit’s 66th and final reunion which was held at the Bangor Auditorium, Bangor, on June 16, 2012.

In 1957, George married Ruth E. Sylvester of Auburn and Ardmore, Pa., who had served with the American Red Cross and Civil Service in World War II in the Far East Command (Philippines, Japan and South Korea). In 1970, after an extended military career, George retired to Auburn, his wife’s home. Here he became a real estate broker for a period of time. He developed an interest in his wife’s hobby and her family trait of gardening. Together they organized the Androscoggin County Chapter of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association in Lewiston and Auburn. He also served as chairman of the board for the Soil and Water Conservation District of Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties of the state of Maine. George was noted for his lifetime hobby of photography, especially 3-D of which he had an extensive collection.

George was a member of several quasi-military and community organizations, including the Military Officers Association of America (formerly TROA), Past Commander of the Military Order of World Wars, the National Sojourners, the 5th Armored Division, Life member of the American Legion, United States Cavalry Association, Masonic organizations: Tranquil Lodge No. 29, A.F. & AM., Scottish Rites, Maine Consistory, Kora Shriners and Androscoggin Shrine Club.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth; his son, Peter Benjamin and his wife, Miyuki Nakamura Benjamin, of San Francisco, Calif.; his daughter, Virginia Benjamin Miller and her companion, Cathy Curtis, of Long Beach, Calif.; his sister, Arlene Benjamin Duquette of Lee, Mass.; and numerous nephews and nieces.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Dorothy Benjamin Brunell and her husband, Marcel, of Lee, Mass., and Jane Benjamin Brown and her husband, Henry, of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.Crosmanfuneralhome.com.