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First Name: Edward

Last Name: Bennett

Birthplace: Middleport, OH, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Middleport, OH
Middle Name: Andrew



Date of Birth: 11 February 1920

Date of Death: 02 May 1983

Rank: Major

Years Served: 1944 - 1962
Edward Andrew Bennett, Jr.

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)
•  Korean War (1950 - 1953)

Biography:

Edward A. Bennett, Jr.
Major, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Major Edward Andrew Bennett, Jr. (11 February 1920 - 2 May 1983) was a U.S. Army officer and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War II.

Edward A. Bennett, Jr. was born on 11 February 1920, in Middleport, OH. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1944 from Middleport. On 1 February 1945, Bennett was serving as a Corporal in Company B, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division. On that day in Heckhuscheid, Germany, he single-handedly charged a house held by German soldiers who were firing on his company, and killed the occupants in hand-to-hand combat. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company B, 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Heckhuscheid, Germany, February 1945.

Citation: He was advancing with Company B across open ground to assault Heckhuscheid, Germany, just after dark when vicious enemy machinegun fire from a house on the outskirts of the town pinned down the group and caused several casualties. He began crawling to the edge of the field in an effort to flank the house, persisting in this maneuver even when the hostile machinegunners located him by the light of burning buildings and attempted to cut him down as he made for the protection of some trees. Reaching safety, he stealthily made his way by a circuitous route to the rear of the building occupied by the German gunners. With his trench knife he killed a sentry on guard there and then charged into the darkened house. In a furious hand-to-hand struggle he stormed about a single room which harbored 7 Germans. Three he killed with rifle fire, another he clubbed to death with the butt of his gun, and the 3 others he dispatched with his .45 caliber pistol. The fearless initiative, stalwart combat ability, and outstanding gallantry of Cpl. Bennett eliminated the enemy fire which was decimating his company's ranks and made it possible for the Americans to sweep all resistance from the town.

In June 1951, after the start of the Korean War, Bennett became a commissioned officer. He served in Korea and eventually reached the rank of Major before his retirement in October 1962 following a heart attack.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart (4)

Death and Burial

Major Edward A. Bennett, Jr. died on 2 May 1983. He is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, San Mateo County, CA, in Section 2-B, Grave 10714.



Honoree ID: 1287   Created by: MHOH

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