Steven Logan Bennett

STEVEN LOGAN BENNETT (1946-1972) Steven L. Bennett was born on April 22, 1946, in Palestine, Texas. He graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Since Bennett had been a member of the Air Force ROTC in college, he received a commission after completing pilot training on August 12, 1968. Bennett was deployed to Vietnam with the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Da Nang Air Base and had risen to the rank of Captain by 1972.

On June 29, 1972, Bennett was flying an OV-10 Bronco, a light observation aircraft, with artillery observer Mike Brown. He noticed a large enemy force preparing to attack a friendly unit, and request air and artillery support to protect the friendly force. When both were denied, Bennett decided to strafe the enemy force with his own small aircraft. After completing four passes over the enemy they began to retreat. Bennett continued his attack and made a fifth pass over the enemy, at which point a surface to air missile struck the plane. The left engine was severely damaged as well as the left landing gear. Bennett ordered Brown to prepare to jump, but Brown's parachute had been shredded by shrapnel from the missile. Though Bennett had a working parachute, he decided to risk his own life to save his passenger. He elected to attempt to ditch the aircraft in the Gulf of Tonkin, even though he knew that no OV-10 Bronco pilot had ever survived a ditched landing. The impact of the aircraft hitting the water damaged the cockpit and made escape impossible for Bennett. Brown survived the ditching and was rescued soon afterward. Bennett was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for placing the safety of his passenger and of the men on the ground above his own.

His medal was presented to his wife, Linda, and their daughter, Angela, on August 8, 1974, by President Gerald Ford at the White House. Bennett is buried at Lafayette Memorial Cemetery in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Bibliography: "Above and Beyond: The Medal of Honor in Texas," Capitol Visitors Center, State Preservation Board of Texas. Frisbee, John, "A Gift of Life," Medal of Honor.com, http://medalofhonor.com/StevenBennett.htm, June 14, 2006. Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Association, University of Texas, http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/BB/fbeyv.html, April 26, 2006.