Valor.

Harold George Bennett

• Born: October 16, 1940, Thornburg, Arkansas
• Home: Perryville, Arkansas
• Branch: Army

Harold Bennett was interned as a Prisoner of War in Southeast Asia after he was captured in South Vietnam on December 29, 1964 and was held until his death in captivity. He was reportedly executed for injuring one of his captors during one of his three escape attempts. His remains have never been recovered. The Silver Star for his heroic actions was belatedly presented by Senator Blanche Lincoln

AWARDS BY DATE OF ACTION

Silver Star awarded for actions during Vietnam War

CITATION

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Harold George Bennett (ASN: 18542931), United States Army, for gallantry in action from 29 December 1964 to 25 June 1965, while serving as a Ranger Advisor to the Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. On 29 December 1964, Staff Sergeant Bennett assisted two companies of the 33d Vietnamese Ranger Battalion in assaulting a powerful Viet Cong Force occupying the village of Binh Gia in Phuo Tuy Province. En route, the Rangers were ambushed and overwhelmed by enemy forces employing mortars, recoilless rifles, and small arms fire. Staff Sergeant Bennett fearlessly traversed the battlefield, rallying survivors and calling in supporting fire from American gunships in the area. On two separate occasions, Staff Sergeant Bennett refused extraction, electing instead to stay behind and fight. He was eventually captured by the enemy. During his time in captivity, Staff Sergeant Bennett planned three separate escape attempts, the third of which resulted in his finger being bitten to the bone by the Viet Cong guard he was attempting to overcome. As a result of his tenacity and insubordination, Staff Sergeant Bennett was frequently blindfolded and beaten, given reduced rations and shackled in solitary confinement for prolonged periods. On 25 June 1965, the Viet Cong announced that they had executed Staff Sergeant Bennett in reprisal for the Saigon Government's execution of a communist terrorist. Staff Sergeant Bennett's valor and intrepidity during combat and his conspicuous courage and bravery while in captivity are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Thanks to the Military Times' Hall of Valor Project