Steven L. Bennett

Steven Logan Bennett (April 22, 1946 – June 29, 1972) was a United States Air Force pilot who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Vietnam War.

Early life Bennett was born on 1946 in Palestine, Texas, but grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana. He graduated from Youngsville High School in 1964 and then went on to attend Southwestern Louisiana Institute, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering.

Military career On August 12, 1968, Bennett was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program at the Southwestern Louisiana Institute, and in October 1969, he completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Webb Air Force Base in Texas.

After completing combat crew training in the B-52 Stratofortress at Castle Air Force Base in California, Bennett was assigned to the 325th Bomb Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington, in May 1970.

After controlling gunfire from U.S. Navy ships offshore and directing air strikes against enemy positions for approximately three hours, Bennett received an urgent call for assistance. A small South Vietnamese Army unit was about to be attacked by a much larger North Vietnamese force. Without immediate help, the unit was certain to be overrun. Unfortunately, there were no friendly fighters left in the area, and supporting naval gunfire would have endangered the South Vietnamese.

(signed) GERALD R. FORD

Other honors Bennett is the namesake of the ship and his name is engraved on the Vietnam Memorial at Panel 01W - Row 051. There have been numerous other dedications held in his honor. They range from streets being named after him to buildings, including a gymnasium and a cafeteria, a sports arena and VFW posts, and many monuments. Bennett has been mentioned in several military history books. He has a public park named in his honor in Palestine, Texas.

Personal life Bennett and Linda Leveque were married in September 1968. They had one child, Angela Bennett Engele, who lives in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and is the current president of the OV-10 Association located in Fort Worth and the Volunteer Administrator (a volunteer position) for the Fort Worth Aviation Museum.