Medal of Honor Roll Call: Edward A. Bennett

HUMAN EVENTS

A WW II hero corporal who went toe-to-toe with the Germans

by Robert J. Laplander

Rank and Organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company B, 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division. Place and Date of Action: Heckhuscheid, Germany, February 1945.
Entered Service At: Middleport, Ohio.
Birth Date and Birth Place: 11 February 1920, Middleport, Ohio.
G.O. No.: 95, 30 October 1945.

Citation:

He was advancing with Company B across open ground to assault Heckhuscheid, Germany, just after dark when vicious enemy machinegun fire from a house on the outskirts of the town pinned down the group and caused several casualties. He began crawling to the edge of the field in an effort to flank the house, persisting in this maneuver even when the hostile machine gunners located him by the light of burning buildings and attempted to cut him down as he made for the protection of some trees.

Reaching safety, he stealthily made his way by a circuitous route to the rear of the building occupied by the German gunners. With his trench knife he killed a sentry on guard there and then charged into the darkened house. In a furious hand-to-hand struggle he stormed about a single room which harbored 7 Germans. Three he killed with rifle fire, another he clubbed to death with the butt of his gun, and the 3 others he dispatched with his .45 caliber pistol. The fearless initiative, stalwart combat ability, and outstanding gallantry of Cpl. Bennett eliminated the enemy fire which was decimating his company's ranks and made it possible for the Americans to sweep all resistance from the town.

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Robert J. Laplander is a military historian and the the author of 'Finding the Lost Battalion' and other works. You may see his endeavors at www.lulu.com/lostbattalion or: http://bit.ly/kUcnN2