The second conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor was Thomas W. Bennett, a United States Army doctor who was killed in action during the Vietnam War (April 7, 1947 – February 11, 1969).
After frequently risking his life to rescue injured soldiers during operations in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Thomas W. Bennett was awarded the medal. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after suffering fatal injuries during one of these actions in Pleiku Province.
Thomas W. Bennett MOH
Thomas W. Bennett was a friendly and devout man who was born in Morgantown, West Virginia. He was brought up as a Southern Baptist, and in his first year at West Virginia University, he founded the Campus Ecumenical Council.
After the fall 1967 semester, Thomas W. Bennett was put on academic probation and thought about what he would do if he lost his academic deferral. Bennett, who was patriotic but opposed to killing for religious reasons, chose to enroll as a willing conscientious objector. A conscientious objector, who refuses to provide any kind of support to the military, is not the same as this categorization. He had field medical training.
After arriving in South Vietnam on January 1, 1969, Thomas W. Bennett was deployed to the Central Highlands of Vietnam with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry. In the dense, steep terrain, the unit started a series of demanding patrols. Bennett braved gunfire to rescue at least five wounded guys from the squad when it came under heavy fire on February 9. His battalion sergeant nominated him for the Silver Star that night. In the days that followed, Bennett frequently risked his life to care for the injured. Bennett was shot dead on February 11 while trying to assist a comrade who had been hit by sniper fire. President Richard Nixon gave his mother and stepfather his posthumous Medal of Honor on April 7, 1970.
Vietnam War medic
A youth center at Schofield Barracks on Oahu, Hawaii, was named in Bennett’s honor in 1988. In Morgantown, West Virginia, a bridge that spans the Monongahela River on Interstate 79 bears his name. The Bennett Tower residence hall at West Virginia University’s Evansdale Residential Complex bears his name. His name is attached to a medical clinic in Fort Hood, Texas. Bonni McKeown’s book Peaceful Patriot: the Story of Tom Bennett is about Bennett.
Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Corporal, United States Army, 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment.
Place and date: Chu Pah Region, Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam, 9–11 February 1969.
Entered service at: Fairmont, West Virginia
Birth: Morgantown, West Virginia Born: 7 April 1947
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Cpl. Tom 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.Tom 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. Tom 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.Tom 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.Tom 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.Tom 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.Tom 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.
