Staff Sergeant Benjamine “Ben” Fields was born 7 May 1920, at Saint Charles, Virginia. He enlisted in the Kentucky National Guard at Harlan on 18 June 1939, for Company A, 149th Infantry. He entered into federal service on 17 January 1941. At the time he was living at Elcomb, Harlan County, Kentucky. Fields was killed in action 15 April 1945, in the Philippine Islands. He is buried in the Beech Grove Cemetery, Harlan County, Kentucky.