Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

North Las Vegas’ Gaetano Benza, decorated WWII veteran, dies at 91

World War II veteran Gaetano

Steve Marcus

World War II veteran Gaetano “Guy” Benza shows off sand, collected during a 2009 visit to Omaha Beach, at his home in North Las Vegas Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Benza and Davis Leonard, another local World War II veteran, will receive the French Legion d’Honneur award on Friday. The award is the highest honor France bestows on its citizens and foreign nationals.

World War II Veteran Gaetano ‘Guy’ Benza

World War II veteran Gaetano Launch slideshow »

Retelling his World War II experiences to younger generations, Gaetano “Guy” Benza would sift sand he brought back from Normandy beaches through his fingers.

Human life and blood were filtered through the sand, the North Las Vegas resident used to tell young adults preparing to become officers in the U.S. military, his son said Wednesday. The message wasn’t solely about respect but about the importance of never forgetting history.

The decorated war veteran and longtime barber died Tuesday. He was 91.

The community lost a legend, his son Tommy Benza said. “(He was) a piece of living history and one of the kindest people that you will (ever know).”

Benza, an Army private, transported supplies from boats to land under heavy fire during the Allies' historic invasion of Normandy. He “worked tirelessly, while under heavy enemy fire, to ensure that the soldiers who landed were equipped for battle,” according to a 2014 statement by U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, after Benza and Las Vegan Master Sgt. Davis Leonard were honored with the French Legion of Honor medal for their service to France during the war. The medal is the highest honor France bestows .

His vast war experiences were inked in the recently released book “December in Le Havre: A story Based on True Events from the Life of Gaetano Benza,” written by John Vinuela and Joelle Farrow.

Benza met President Barack Obama during a 2009 ceremony in Normandy, the Army veteran told French Quarter Magazine: “I think it is a privilege to shake the hand of the president of the United States. It is as if you are shaking the hand of all Americans.”

He recalled Obama telling him: “Congratulations, I am proud of you, sir.”

Benza went from defending the U.S. to serving its residents after leaving the Army after the war.

His followed the footsteps of his grandfather and father, who had been barbers before him, his son said.

From his 20s and into his 90s, and up to a couple of months ago, Gaetano Benza continued to cut hair — either at his house, friends' homes or senior citizen centers. In his later years, he would cut hair for tips alone — money he used to gas up his vehicle and take his wife on dates.

Gaetano was also a regular at schools and at Nellis Air Force Base, where he would share his war stories, his son said. He was always eager to declare that he had served his country.

The younger Benza lost his confidant, whom he would talk to on the phone every day, and family members lost "a huge part" of their hearts, Tommy Gaetano said.

Gaetano Benza's survivors include his wife of over 20 years, Kwon Benza; a stepdaughter, Minan Nelson; son-in-law Larry Nelson; children Lynda and Vito DiBenedetto, Charles and Sue Benza, Gaetano Benza Jr. (Tommy) and Kerri Molloy-Benza, granddaughters Izabella and Braelin, grandsons Gaetano III and Anthony Benza, Allie Benza, and great-grandchildren Keeleigh, Kalaiya and Keegan.

Visitations are scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Monday at Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Benza's funeral and graveyard service are set for 9:20 a.m. Tuesday at Southern Nevada Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive.

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