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By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOboyle on Twitter

PLYMOUTH – When he heard about the new movie “War Horse,” the storyline really hit home with Ben Walker.

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Ben Walker, 90, of Plymouth, tells the story of his uncle Benjamin Thomas Boyce and the war horse Boyce served with during World War I.

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Benjamin T. Boyce, center, with two unidentified American soldiers during World War I in France. Boyce was assigned a horse to pull a caisson filled with ammunition to the frontline.

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Walker, who will turn 91 this month, is a veteran of World War II, having served in the Pacific Theater with the U.S. Navy.

Walker’s uncle – Pvt. Benjamin Thomas Boyce of Plymouth – served in World War I. Boyce was assigned a horse that was used to pull a caisson with ammunition to the front line.

Unlike the movie, in which the main human character and the horse return home after the war, Boyce and his horse didn’t make it. They were killed just 10 days before the end of the conflict.

Boyce is buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in Romagne, France.

“I saw the advertisements for the movie on TV,” Walker said. “It brought back memories of my uncle, who I am named after. I think I’ll go see the movie.”

Walker and his wife, Catherine, have been married for 64 years. They are parents of four children, and they have 22 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Another one is on the way soon, Walker said.

“My uncle cared for the horse that was assigned to him,” Walker said. “The horse pulled a caisson that brought needed ammunition to the guys on the front line.”

The movie tells the story of a young man and his horse who are separated during the war and who are reunited and return to England together. The movie is directed by Steven Spielberg and is playing at regional theaters now.

But Boyce was a real-life version of the movie character. He is memorialized on the plaque on the Soldiers and Sailors monument on West Main Street in Plymouth. The statue honors World War I veterans from Plymouth. It’s a heritage and history that Walker is very proud of, and he purchased a brick in the “Walk of Fame” leading up to the monument.

The brick lists Walker and his family members who served in the military.

History is important to Walker. His memory is crisp and he talked about his grandparents – Charles and Jane Jones Boyce – who operated the Wyoming Valley’s first laundry service on Downing Street in Plymouth.

“They had a horse, too,” he said. “They would ride in a horse-drawn wagon and go through Plymouth to pick up laundry. They would bring it back to Downing Street, wash it and return it to their customers.”

Walker’s grandparents also served as early caretakers of the Shawnee Cemetery. He said they lived on the site and would take photographs of people visiting loved ones’ graves.

“They would sell the photos to the families if they wanted to buy them,” he said. “The Shawnee Cemetery offered spectacular views of the valley that photographed well.”

Walker has a photo of his grandmother at Boyce’s grave in France. He said the cemetery there is peaceful and his grandmother felt it was the best location for his final resting place.

“She didn’t want to disturb the grave and bring him back here,” Walker said.

The movie “War Horse” has brought world attention to the value of horses during battle.

Ben Walker wanted to bring attention to his uncle for his service during World War I and his horse.

“I was told he was with that horse all the time,” he said. “And it was an important job to get ammunition to the front.”

Heroes are born of every war. Most don’t have movies made about them.