| Graduation Year | Class of 1937 |
| Date of Birth | Apr 20, 1917 |
| Date of Passing | Feb 24, 1990 |
| About | Benjamin S. Gill, 72, of Charlevoix, died Feb. 24, 1990, at Little Traverse Division, Northern Michigan Hospitals. Chaplain David Behling will officiate and burial will be in Brookside Cemetery, Charlevoix Mr. Gill was born April 20, 1917, in Charlevoix, the son of Alfred and Henrietta (Swartz) Gill. He attended and graduated from Charlevoix High School in 1937 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Sept. 30, 1940. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16) and then volunteered for transfer to the Asiatic Fleet and served on the USS Canopus (AS-9) before being assigned to the submarine Perch (SS-176). The Perch was sunk by the Japanese on March 3, 1942 and Mr. Gill was taken prisoner of war by the Japanese. He was a prisoner of war for three years. Mr. Gill was Charlevoix's only Japanese prisoner of war during World War II. On Feb. 14, 1946, be married the former Phyllis J. Martin in Charlevoix. Mr. Gill made the military his career and retired from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center as chief electrician's mate on April 5, 1961. The family returned to their home in Charlevoix and Mr. Gill worked for the Charlevoix Fire Department from 1966-79. He was instrumental in founding and creating the submarine memorial for the state of Michigan which stands in Charlevoix East Park. He was a life member of the following organizations: Michigan Chapter US Submarine Veterans of World War II: the military Order of the Purple Heart; the American Ex-Prisoners of War; the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor; a member of Leslie T. Shapton Post 226 and VFW Post No. 1153 in Charlevoix; also a member of the Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 358. Mr. Gill was awarded many medals during World War II including the Purple Heart and Prisoner of War medal. Survivors include his wife Phyllis of Charlevoix; two daughters, Mrs. Jeffrey (Carrol Jean) Pines of Charlevoix and Mrs. Myron (Bennie Jane) Gill-Schwandt of Boyne City; one grandson, Joshua J. Strzyzewski of Charlevoix; one sister, Joann Snyder of Manitowish Waters, Wis., three brothers, Donn Gill of Dyer, Ind., Robert Gill of Charlevoix and Albert (Tubby) Gill of Siren, Wis. He was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers. Winchester Funeral Home, Charlevoix served the family. |
