WW II tailgunner, Sgt. George Franklin Bent, Jr interviewed by Robert Kopper

• published: 18 Sep 2013
• views: 141

Pembroke Community Media's series about WW II continues with episode 5 in which Robert Kopper interviews tail and waist gunner Sgt George Franklin Bent, Jr., originally from Milton, Massachusetts. Episodes one through four of this series have been airing weekly on television to over 3 ½ million viewers in PA, WI, IN, CA, ME, NH, and MA, and are playing in 30 Massachusetts towns, including Marshfield, Hanover, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Danvers and Plympton. A commercial for episode 5 shot September 18th by Pembroke Media volunteers with James Whooley making his acting debut, was shown as a promotional around the country prior to this video's release. "You won't believe the original WW II documents you see," Jim says in the 55-second spot. "You have to watch this show." If the Bent name sounds familiar, it's because the G H Bent company has been making crackers in Milton since 1801. Locals call it "Bent's Cookie Factory." Here's some information about George Franklin Bent, Jr.'s grandparents on his mother's side: His maternal grandparents were US citizens. They formed the Wiseman family of four. Harrison S. Wiseman and wife Mary were born in NewYork in 1868 and 1873 respectively. In 1910 they lived in Pontiac, Michigan with 13-yr-old daughter Ruth Julia Wiseman (that's George Bent's mom-to-be) and eleven-year-old son James Harrison Wiseman. Both children were born in Michigan. Another child had since passed away. 24-year-old William Herzog from New York lived with them as a roomer, and worked as factory foreman in an automobile plant. Mom Mary was a homemaker, and Dad Harrison fashioned leather for the auto industry. On the paternal side, males named Shepherd, Joseph, Junior, and Josiah Bent all lived in Milton in the year 1800 according to the Census. Josiah was 29 at the time, having been born in 1771 to John Bent and Hannah Coller. Josiah is the relative who started the George Bent Cookie Factory in Milton, Massachusetts, famous for flour-and-water hard tack that became known as the first "cracker." The staple required no refrigeration and was part of nearly every soldier's wartime diet. It wasn't until 1873 that births were recorded in a family bible purchased by George and Edna who by then had babies Frances and Annie. These parents must have know their household would be expanding, since the illustrated and leather-bound book was a heavy thing with many empty pages for entries. The children of George Henry Bent and "first wife" Edna Louise Hayden Bent as recorded in their bible: Frances Ashton Bent was welcomed into the family on February 29, 1872. Sister Annie Mabel Bent(Bradlee) was born July 5, 1873; followed by Arthur Preston Bent on July 20-something in 1876; Gertrude Milton Bent(Read) on August 2, 1880; Emiline Hersey Bent on July 15, 1882; Jesse Pierce Bent on December 2, 1883; Harvey Bent on June 20, 1885; George Franklin Bent on May 7, 1886; and Roy Bent on August 17, 1891. That's nine children from "first wife" Edna who died December 17, 1895 at the age of 44. A subsequent marriage to "second wife" Minerva Clarable Eddy Bent (and later "Higgins") added Helen Margaret Bent, July 3, 1907; William Eddy Bent July 2, 1909; and Charles Preston Bent September 4, 1910. There were now a family of 14. George Henry Bent, the father of these 12 children, and grandfather to our George Franklin Bent in Pembroke, Massachusetts, died April 13, 1915 from pneumonia. The story goes that he hiked a lot with his dog Water Cracker Bill, caught a chill, and died. That brings us to our George's father who was the 8th child in the family of 12 siblings from Milton, Massachusetts. He was George Franklin Bent, Sr who married Ruth Wiseman from Michigan. George F. Senior served in WW I. His and Ruth's children were Mary Catherine, Jean Marie, our George Franklin Jr., and then Sylvia three years later in 1928. Today 88-year-old Sgt George Franklin Bent lives in Pembroke, Massachusetts with third wife Peggy. This 5th episode of Robert Kopper's WW II series was recorded Saturday afternoon, August 24th, 2013 in the living room of Bent's Pleasant Street home. On set, George was "grip," carrying all heavy filming equipment in and out of vehicles and through doorways. Pembroke Media is an alliance of volunteers interested in recording local events and keeping history alive. Funding comes 100% from local businesses and people like you. All support is fully tax-deductible under IRS 501(c)(3) regulations and Commonwealth of Massachusetts non-profit guidelines. Go the www.pembrokecommunitymedia.com or call 781-910-8899. You can sponsor a show, get a DVD, or just have fun viewing.