The "Ben" was not given to him by parents. He gave it to himself from a book he read about a man named Ben Eide.
He was instrumental in getting his widowed father to form an interest and eventual marriage with his second wife, Lyda Richardson. Charles was hesitant, but Howard, ever the romantic, gave him a "push" to start the relationship.
U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record <javascript:showPop('infoPopup')> <javascript:showPop('infoPopup')> about Howard B Taplin
Name: Howard B Taplin
Birth Year: 1919
Race: White, citizen
Nativity State or Country: South Dakota
State: Minnesota
County or City: Cass
Enlistment Date: 20 Nov 1945
Enlistment State: Minnesota
Enlistment City: Fort Snelling
Branch: Quartermaster Corps
Branch Code: Quartermaster Corps
Grade: Master Sergeant
Grade Code: Master Sergeant
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for Hawaiian Department
Component: Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
Education: 1 year of high school
Civil Occupation: Automotive Mechanic
Marital Status: Married
Height: 80
Weight: 140(enlistment info kindly sent by Bill Inmon)