World War II Honoree

Thomas Edwin 'Tom' Bennett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) PROGRAM AT OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURAL & MECHANICAL COLLEGE (OAMC) AT STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA. UPON HIS GRADUATION IN 1942, HE WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT OF INFANTRY, AND A SHORT TIME LATER WAS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY. RECEIVED ORDERS FOR OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT ON OCTOBER 1, 1942. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, INCLUDING IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA, DURING THE WAR. WOUNDED IN ACTION DURING OPERATIONS IN THE NEW GEORGIA ISLANDS IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS WHEN A JAPANESE BOMB EXPLODED NEAR HIS POSITION. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘JAPAN’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.