December 31, 2009

Tonight Emily had company.  Dwight and Dianne Henn, who were dear friends from Middlesboro were driving through Chattanooga on their way from Texas to Knoxville to visit family.  They only recently learned of Gene's death, and were eager to have a visit with Emily on their way through town.  They arrived just in time for a quick trip to the cemetery.  Emily made a lovely dinner with Alan and Lynn joining before they had to be on the road to make it for a visit with sisters.  Alan and Lynn stayed around visiting, watching TV, and playing Boggle.

Emily began to reminisce about her oldest brother:

Ben - Benjamin Franklin Van Sant.  Today was his birthday.  He was born in 1918 to Vernon Vaughn VanSant and Jessie Milton Jones VanSant.  Ben was gentle, kind, and intelligent person.  A hero to me, his one and only little sister - until Frances Ruth came along in 1933.  He was tall, fair, and handsome - blonde and blue eyed. 

I wanted a Bible when I was about 9 years old.  He said he would give me a Bible if I would memorize a scripture verse.  "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee."  Psalm 119:11. 

He came home from college - the University of Kentucky at Christmas time.  He had been studying German.  We were fascinated when he sang Silent night to Tom and Me in German!  We thought he was wonderful. 


Taken from the Pulaski County Past

Ben was born at Morehead, Ky., Dec 31, 1918.  He attended Sandy Hook High School, Sandy Hook, Ky., and Clarion High School in Oklahoma City, Okla., and graduated from Mt Victory High School in 1936.  He worked his way through the University of Kentucky and graduated with a B.S. degree in chemistry in 1940.   He was awarded a fellowship in his department the following fall and was working part time on his Master’s degree as well as serving as an instructor when he was called to active duty. He went to the west coast in July, 1941, and from there to the Philippines without ever having a furlough home.  He was taken prisoner when Bataan fell and was on the March of Death.  He had been moved from Davao prisoner camp to Cabanatuan on Luzon from which point he was being transferred to Japan.



The flag in the image above hung in the window of Vernon and Jessie VanSant - one for each of their sons who served in the military.