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Service Details |
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Personal Details
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Home State
West Virginia | |
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Year of Birth
1947 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SGT Tom Wetzel (20 ALPHA)
to remember
Bennett, Thomas William, CPL.
If you knew or served with this Soldier and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Casualty Info
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Home Town
Morgantown, West Virginia |
Last Address
Pleiku, Gia Lai, Vietnam
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Casualty Date
Feb 11, 1969 |
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Cause
Hostile, Died |
Reason
Gun, Small Arms Fire |
Location
Pleiku |
Conflict
Vietnam War |
Location of Interment
East Oak Grove Cemetery - Morgantown, West Virginia |
Wall/Plot Coordinates
32w line 010 |
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Last Known Activity
Viet Nam Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the United States Army during the War in Viet Nam as a Corporal in the 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Chu Pa Region, Pleiku Province, February 9 to 11, 1969. His ctation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Cpl. Bennett distinguished himself while serving as a platoon medical aidman with the 2nd Platoon, Company B, during a reconnaissance-in-force mission. On 9 February the platoon was moving to assist the 1st Platoon of Company D which had run into a North Vietnamese ambush when it became heavily engaged by the intense small arms, automatic weapons, mortar and rocket fire from a well fortified and numerically superior enemy unit. In the initial barrage of fire, 3 of the point members of the platoon fell wounded. Cpl. Bennett, with complete disregard for his safety, ran through the heavy fire to his fallen comrades, administered life-saving first aid under fire and then made repeated trips carrying the wounded men to positions of relative safety from which they would be medically evacuated from the battle position. Cpl. Bennett repeatedly braved the intense enemy fire moving across open areas to give aid and comfort to his wounded comrades. He valiantly exposed himself to the heavy fire in order to retrieve the bodies of several fallen personnel. Throughout the night and following day, Cpl. Bennett moved from position to position treating and comforting the several personnel who had suffered shrapnel and gunshot wounds. On 11 February, Company B again moved in an assault on the well fortified enemy positions and became heavily engaged with the numerically superior enemy force. Five members of the company fell wounded in the initial assault. Cpl. Bennett ran to their aid without regard to the heavy fire. He treated 1 wounded comrade and began running toward another seriously wounded man. Although the wounded man was located forward of the company position covered by heavy enemy grazing fire and Cpl. Bennett was warned that it was impossible to reach the position, he leaped forward with complete disregard for his safety to save his comrade's life. In attempting to save his fellow soldier, he was mortally wounded. Cpl. Bennett's undaunted concern for his comrades at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army". His Medal was posthumously given to his Family at the White House by President Richard M. Nixon on April 7, 1970.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7028471/thomas-william-bennett
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