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Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company B, 358th Infantry,
90th Infantry Division. Place and date: Heckhuscheid, Germany, February
1945. Entered service at: Middleport, Ohio. Birth: 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 machinegunners 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.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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