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Medal of Honor recipient Thomas W. Bennett (April 7, 1947- February 11, 1969) was a conscientious objector who received America’s highest honor for his heroism as an army medic in Vietnam. Born in Morgantown, Bennett was active in high school clubs, ecumenical church work, and the Boy Scouts. He was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War while a student at West Virginia University. Believing it was wrong to evade the draft while others had to serve, he volunteered as a noncombatant medic with the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry. He was killed by gunfire in a battle at Chu Pa, Vietnam, while trying to drag a wounded soldier to safety. He was nominated by his commanding officer and soldiers for the Medal of Honor.

Named for Bennett are the WVU residence hall Bennett Tower; the Bennett House campus ecumenical center; and the Bennett Youth Center at Schofield Barracks, U.S. Army 14th and 25th Infantry Division, Hawaii.

Below is an excerpt from Peaceful Patriot: The Story of Tom Bennett (1980)

I don’t think that what’s happening in ‘Nam will win any cause worth 150,000 human lives. That’s my opinion. I’ll express it here now, or later when I might be risking my neck in ‘Nam. It’s my obligation as part of a democracy to let my voice be heard.

It is also my obligation to give service to my country. That’s why I’m here – to help provide freedom for dissenting voices. That’s one of the things which makes a country great. Only when a system is considered hopeless should a person leave it or work for its destruction.

I believe in America. I believe that our process of government can respond to the people’s needs – if we each will assume our responsibility. Too many of us jump to the last resort first-leaving or destroying the system.

This Article was written by Bonni V. McKeown

Last Revised on April 07, 2015

Sources

McKeown, Bonni V. Peaceful Patriot: The Story of Tom Bennett. Charleston: Mountain State Press, 1980.

Ryan, F. Evelyn. Memorial to Honor Local Vietnam War Casualty. Morgantown Dominion Post, July 31, 1988.

Vietnam Vet to be Honored. West Virginia University Alumni News, (Apr. 1990).

Cite This Article

McKeown, Bonni V. "Tom Bennett." e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. 07 April 2015. Web. 15 November 2024.

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Thomas W. Bennett Medal of Honor citation »

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• Rank: Corporal
• Organization: U.S. Army
• Company: Company B, 1st Battalion
• Division: 14th Infantry
• Place / Date: Chu Pa Region, Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam, 9-11 February 1969

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.

Source: Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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