Harold Kenneth Bonine was born on 10 February 1923 to Benjamin Hugh Bonine and Cora Ellen Plemons. He was married to Geneva Smith and father of Bobbie Ann Bonine.
He was killed in action on 10 July 1944 in France. Pvt Bonine was returned from Blosville-Carentan, France
Buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery
Private
314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division
The Chattanooga Times, August 22, 1944
“I used to wonder how you and dad stayed so close to God – now I’m beginning to understand it better.” This statement was contained in a letter written from a foxhole in France by Pvt. Harold K. Bonine, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben H. Bonine, 1803 East 27th Street, only 11 days before he was reported killed in action. His parents received his letter, written on notebook paper, after he had been officially listed as killed in action on July 10 in France. Pvt. Bonine wrote of his home life, which he was looking forward to enjoying again, and stated that he was feeling well on the day the letter was written, because “I have just finished taking a bath in two helmets of water.” Three pages of hsi five-page letter were devoted to expressign to his parents his belief in God, and how much that belief had meant to him in the foxholes of France. He asserted that he “meant to get down to business when I return home,” and added: “I guess a guy does a lot of dreaming over here, but it may all come true some day. It takes faith in God to do most of the things you want to do. We just don’t put enough faith in Him. To have faith to God you have to keep Him close to you, and by that I mean you have to talk with Him every day. You can’t live right one day in the week and do as you please the rest.”
Pvt. Bonine, former employe of Standard-Coosa-Thatcher Company, who entered the service approximately eight months ago, and had been overseas three months, did not dexcribe the action he had seen as a member of an anti-tank unit in the invasion area. His thoughts seemed to dwell on his home life, although he stated: “The way it (the war) is going now, it could be getting close to the end. But one never knows – it could be just starting good, too. I’ll just look at the worst and hope and pray for the best.”
“I’m glad that I’m over here,” he wrote, “because I feel deep down in my heart that I have found God. I know God has really changed me. I feel for the first time towards God the way I’ve always wanted to feel. Mother, I know yours and dad’s prayers have helped me a lot, because I know God hears and answers prayers.”
Pvgt. Bonine’s wife, Mrs. Geneva Smith Bonine, and their 18-month-old daughter, Bobbie Ann, reside in Atlanta.
- Rank: Private
- Date of birth: 10 February 1923
- Date of death: 10 July 1944
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Chattanoga
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Chattanooga National Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar X, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Harold K. Bonine
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