World War II Honoree

Richard E. Bennink

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Honored By

Jane W. Reed

Relationship

Friend

CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY JUNE 1941. ORDERED TO USS HEYWOOD, AN ATTACK TRANSPORT. SERVED ABOARD UNTIL JUNE 1943 THROUGH TWO ICELAND CONVOYS, GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN, REOCCUPATION OF ATTU IN ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. SPENT NINE MONTHS AT ANNAPOLIS POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL. RETURNED TO SEA AS FLAG COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER TO COMMANDER CARRIER DIVISION 22 ABOARD USS SANGAMON CVE-26 FOR BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF, OCTOBER 1944. TRANSFERRED TO BATTLE CRUISER USS GUAM FOR ATTACK ON OKINAWA, RAIDS ALONG CHINA COAST AND HALSEY'S STRIKES ON JAPAN. DISCHARGED AS LIEUTENANT COMMANDER FEBRUARY 1946. RECEIVED 6 ASIATIC-PACIFIC BATTLE STARS, 3 COMBAT COMMENDATION MEDALS, CHINA SERVICE MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (USS SANGAMON) AND THE NAVY UNIT CITATION (USS HEYWOOD).