Bennett, William, CSM

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
I was bored with the prospect of going to college and always wanted to serve. My father and all of my uncles on both sides, as well as my grandfathers served. I Guess it was the family business. I thought I would do one enlistment and then get out. Well, it took 31 years for me to get out!

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I started out with 12B OSUT at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. After that I spent most of my career at Ft Bragg in the 82nd ABN Div and XVIII ABN Corps.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
All of my deployments impacted me. I was always amazed at the resilience of properly led and trained Soldiers.

DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
There were several situations where I thought for sure I was going to die. I don’t think anybody can be in combat and actually look at another dead Soldierd and think that it can’t happen to you.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
B Co., 27th Engineer Battalion (Rough Terrain) was my best assignment. Incredible Soldiers and a fantastic mission. The worst? Without a doubt Ft Bliss and 1st Armored Division. I was assigned as the CSM to 40th EN BN (It was a BSTB for the first year), and hated every minute of it. We had the NIE mission and it was just an incredible waste of resources. I had more separations, article 15s and courts martial in those two years than I saw in the previous 28 years.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
My first parachute jump

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Seeing my Soldiers receive awards for Valor.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
My Master Parachutists Badge. It opened the door for me to be around the best Soldiers on the planet

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
I won’t mention any names because they are both deceased, but they taught me that selfless service is the most important quality in a person.