Thomas W. Bennett (conscientious objector)

Infobox Military Person
name= Thomas W. Bennett
born= birth date|1947|4|7
died= death date and age|1969|2|11|1947|4|7
placeofbirth= Morgantown, West Virginia
placeofdeath= Chu Pa Region, Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam
placeofburial=


caption= Corporal Thomas Bennett
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|United States United States of America
branch=
serviceyears= 1968-1969
rank= Corporal
commands=
unit= 4th Infantry Division
battles= Vietnam War
awards= Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Thomas W. Bennett (April 7, 1947–February 11, 1969) was a U.S. Army medic and the second conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor (Desmond Doss, a medic in World War II was the first). Bennett was killed in action during the Vietnam War and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Born in Morgantown, West Virginia, Thomas W. Bennett was sociable and deeply religious. While a student at West Virginia University, he formed the Campus Ecumenical Council during his freshman year.

When he was placed on academic probation after the Fall 1967 semester, he considered his options should he lose his academic deferment. Deeply patriotic, but opposed to killing on religious grounds, he opted to enlist as a conscientious objector who was willing to serve. This classification is different from a conscientious objector who will not assist the military in any way. He was trained as a field medic.

Cpl. Thomas W. Bennett arrived in South Vietnam in January 1969, and was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The unit began a series of strenuous patrols in the dense, mountainous terrain. On February 9, 1969, the unit came under intense fire, and Cpl. Bennett risked gunfire to pull at least five wounded men to safety. That evening, his platoon sergeant recommended him for the Silver Star.

Over the coming days, Cpl. Bennett repeatedly put himself in harm's way to tend to the wounded. On February 11, while attempting to reach a soldier wounded by sniper fire, Cpl. Bennett was gunned down. On April 7, 1970, his posthumous Medal of Honor was presented to his mother and stepfather by President Richard Nixon.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Army, 2d Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division

Place and date: Chu Pa Region, Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam, 9 February 1969 – 11 February 1969.

Entered service at: Fairmont, West Virginia.

Born: 7 April 1947, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Citation:ref|Citation

: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 2d 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.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War

References

# [http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html U.S. Army Center of Military History]

External links

*Murphy, Edward F. [http://www.historynet.com/wars_conflicts/vietnam_war/3026546.html "A Conscientious Objector's Medal of Honor"] , "Vietnam" magazine, June 2003.
* [http://www.hood-meddac.army.mil/default.asp?page=bennett_history "Medal of Honor Recipient Corporal Thomas W. Bennett"] , Bennett Health Clinic dedication ceremony, September 25, 1997.

Persondata
NAME= Bennett, Thomas W.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=