Ben Opal Lay was the son of Leander W. Lay and Cordie Rector. Husband of Doris Laxton. He was the stepson of Joe Ray Potter.
He served ont he USS Halligan.
On 26th March 1945, off Okinawa, destroyer Halligan (DD-584) is sunk by a mine. She had struck the mine head on and the explosion was extremy violent. Her bow was ripped off, including the bridge. The gallant Halligan, veteran of so many important operations in the Pacific, lost half of her crew of 300 in the disaster and only 2 of her 21 officers survived.
He is Memorialized at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Rank: Seaman First Class
- Date of birth: 7 March 1922
- Date of death: 26 March 1945
- County: Scott
- Hometown: Huntsville
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: USS Halligan (DD-584)
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVII, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Ben O. Lay
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