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First Name: John

Last Name: Bennet

Birthplace: New Brunswick County, NJ, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Middle Name: Bradbury



Date of Birth: 06 December 1865

Date of Death: 02 September 1930

Rank: Brigadier General

Years Served:
John Bradbury Bennet

   
Graduate, U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1891

Engagements:
•  Philippine-American War (1899 - 1902)
•  World War I (1914 - 1918)

Biography:

John Bradbury Bennet
Brigadier General, U.S. Army

John Bradbury Bennet was born on 6 December 1865 in New Brunswick County, NJ, the son of Hiram Pitt and Sarah McCabe Bennet. His father, an attorney, was one of the pioneer empire builders of the West and was the first delegate to Congress from Colorado Territory from 1861-1865.

After attending the grammar and high schools of Denver, in 1886 Bennet was appointed a cadet to the U. S. Military Academy. Bennet entered the Military Academy with the Class of 1890. He was turned back to 1891 and soon became one of its most popular members. While a cadet he displayed the same high ideals that afterwards characterized his commissioned service. His military qualities were early recognized by appointment as Corporal, then 1st Sergeant and finally Captain of the Corps of Cadets. After graduation on 12 June 1891, he was assigned as Second Lieutenant to the 7th Infantry at Fort Logan, CO.

In 1897 he was promoted to First Lieutenant and appointed as Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier General Frank Wheaton and, in 1899, to Brigadier General Henry C. Merrian. From July 1899 to November 1900, he was Judge Advocate of the Department of Colorado; he was promoted to Captain on 9 June 1900. In November 1900 he went to the Philippines in the 16th Infantry where he saw active service in the field during the War of Insurrection, and served there until June 1902 when he returned to the U.S. and was stationed at Ft. McPherson, GA. He remained there until 26 May 1905, when he once more went to the Philippines and served until January 1907 as Commander of a company of infantry and, subsequently, as Adjutant of Fort William McKinley.

On 27 September 1911, he was promoted to Major and, in October he was detailed as Colonel and Assistant Chief to the Philippine Constabulary, a position he occupied until 1 September 1914, when he returned to the U.S. for service with the 11th Infantry. During the Punitive Expedition into Mexico, Bennet was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and attached to the 17th Infantry. After a tour of duty in 1916 with the Aviation Section, Signal Corps, he was assigned to the Command of the 49th Infantry and went to Camp Merritt where he organized and helped build that Camp. On 5 August 1917, he was promoted to (temporary) Colonel.

On 20 March 1918, Bennet was transferred to the 11th Infantry, Camp Forrest, GA, and sailed for France in April, arriving 4 May 1918. He served in sectors along the Alsace-Lorraine fronts until September when, still in command of the 11th Infantry, he took part in the Battle of St. Mihiel from 11-15 September 1918. He was recommended for (temporary) promotion to Brigadier General by the Division Commander. Subsequently he commanded the 11th Infantry in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of October 1918. After promotion to Brigadier General on 16 October, he saw service with the Inter-Allied Tank Center; was in command as Casual Officer Depot Service of Supplies (SOS), Allied Expeditionary Forces (AEF); with, SOS, AEF, and also commanded the Base Section SOS at Le Havre, France, from 25 November 1918 to 26 April 1919, where in an impressive ceremony, the French decorated him with the Legion of Honor.

Brigadier General Bennet sailed from France for the U.S. on 26 April 1919 and was on duty at Camp Meade, MD, from 10 May to July 1919 as Chief of Demobilization.

On 15 July 1919, after being reduced in rank to his grade of Lieutenant Colonel in the Regular Army, he went to the Army Service School, Ft. Leavenworth, KS, as a student with the General Staff Class. After graduation, he took the course at the Army War College from which he graduated on 1 June 1921. He became a member of the General Staff Corps and, as such, was on duty with the War Department General Staff from 2 June 1921 to 21 June 1925.

Bennet retired, at his own request, on 16 September 1925, after 39 years of service. In retirement, he was promoted to Brigadier General (Retired) on 21 June 1930.

Personal

On 12 August 1891, at Fort Leavenworth, KS, John Bennet married Nelly Dent Sharp, daughter of Colonel Alexander Sharp and Ellen Dent Sharp. The latter was the sister of Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, wife of President Grant. Three children were born of this union:

1. John Bennington at Ft. Logan, CO, 11 July 1892
2. Hiram Wrenshall, at Ft. Logan, CO, 13 August 1896
3. Alexander Sharp, at Denver, CC, 6 July 1899)

John Bennington graduated from West Point in 1916 and served in France during the World War with the 1st and 77th Divisions. He rose to the rank of Major.

Hiram graduated from Yale in 1917, attended the first training camp and passed through the War as a Lieutenant of the 80th Division.

Alexander graduated from West Point 1 November 1918 and was First Lieutenant of the 17th Field Artillery.

Brigadier General Bennet not only left a legacy of duty well done but, in addition, his sons carry on the best traditions of the U.S. Military Academy.

Death and Burial

Brigadier General John Bradbury Bennet died on 2 September 1930 at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, DC, aged 64 years. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.



Honoree ID: 2241   Created by: MHOH

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