Once Upon a Lifetime

The Epic True Story of Corporal William Wesley Bennett, USMC

Drawing from a truly impressive amount of eyewitness interviews and archival research, Peterson has presented a refreshing vision of character while in the depths of humanity's darkest place. He tracks the journey of a man who is just piecing together what his life should mean as the clouds of history's widest, deadliest war fill the sky. Enveloped by a sense of duty to hold the line for his country, Bennett finds himself in the utter hell-scape of the Pacific War as a Marine.

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A Guy Named Bill

The Man Behind the Story

Bill's story follows Company D, 2nd Battalion, 18th Marines, through the Solomon Islands, Tarawa, Saipan, and Tinian during WW II. Based on eyewitness interviews and extensive research, Once Upon a Lifetime is one of the most detailed accounts of a U.S. Marine company in combat during history's widest and deadliest war.

Corporal William Wesley Bennett was a man who exemplified the virtues of our “Greatest Generation”. A man of honor, integrity, and great faith. From his small-town upbringing in the Midwest, through the earth-shattering combat of the Pacific in WW II, Once Upon a Lifetime is a true story about a guy named Bill who personified the red, white, and blue of the American spirit.

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What Readers Are Saying

Lynne S Fisher

This is a fascinating book because I knew Bill Bennett, the subject of the book, as I was growing up. My mother, Fran McElroy, is also mentioned in the book as are her two brothers (my uncles) and her parents (my grandparents). There are other people I recognize from spending every summer of my life in Aurora, IL. In fact, Bill introduced my parents on a blind date. Bill Bennett went through incredible experiences in World War II. His strong Christian faith is an inspiration. Kudos to the author for such a dynamic book. Highly recommend.

Thomas R. Godwin

The book is about one man and it is wonderful in telling his story. However, there are so many more stories about other Marines which add color not only to Bennett’s life but to theirs too. A remarkable telling of men in an extraordinary time. Everybody had a story to tell but not everyone did or was able to. Thank you for details heretofore untold about Bennett and other Marines that may have otherwise been lost to time. I hope more books come out like this.

Susan

This was originally for myself but my dad, you see was in the marines and so I gifted it to him. We grew up in Aurora but our family is from the area so it is very familiar when you talk about local attractions or certain things. He keeps saying how awesome the book is and was in awe of how i found it. Thank you!!!

Anonymous

Bill Bennett exemplified the "Greatest Generation" and his story is told accurately and in great detail by Brent Peterson. He was a young man, like any other, from an ordinary midwest town, but he had extraordinary faith and he did extraordinary things when duty called. It's because of men like him that we won the war and are free today. Brent Peterson painstakingly researched and recorded the story of this man and preserved it for us all.

Sarah

WOW! In depth account of W.W. Bennett's life, faith, and his time in the USMC during WWII in the Pacific. Loads of war history, maps and amazing stories. Good read

About the Author

Brent A. Peterson

Brent Peterson first became familiar with Bill Bennett in 1975 at the age of 12. From 1990 until 2011, Brent listened to Bill share first-hand accounts of his time with Company D, 2nd Batallion, 18th Marine Regiment. In 2014, Brent began a +4,000 hour project of researching the incredible, almost impossible to believe, stories of Bill Bennet's Life.

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