fbpx
Wikipedia

Edward Clyde Benfold

January 06, 2023

Edward Clyde Benfold (January 15, 1931 – September 5, 1952) was a United States Navy hospital corpsman third class who was killed in action while attached to a Marine Corps rifle company during the Battle of Bunker Hill (1952) in the Korean War.

Edward Clyde Benfold
Born(1931-01-15)January 15, 1931
Staten Island, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 5, 1952(1952-09-05) (aged 21)
near Panmunjom, Korea
Buried
Beverly National Cemetery
Beverly, New Jersey
(Distinguished Service Section, Grave 12)
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1949–1952
Rank Hospital Corpsman Third Class
UnitE Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines
Battles/warsKorean War
AwardsMedal of Honor
Purple Heart Medal

He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty on September 5, 1952.

Early life and education

Benfold was born in Staten Island, the son of Edward and Glenys Benfold. His father served as a Merchant Marine Officer (1st engineer) during World War II and was killed in action serving on the Honduran ship Castilla on June 7, 1942, when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-107 near Cuba.[1][2][3]

Benfold grew up in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, and lived in nearby Audubon, where he graduated from Audubon High School in 1949.[4]

U.S. Navy

Benfold enlisted in the United States Navy on June 27, 1949, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5] He completed Navy recruit training in Great Lakes, Illinois, in December and was selected for "A" school training there at the Naval Hospital Corps School.[6] He was promoted to hospital apprentice in 1949. In April 1950, he was transferred to the Naval Hospital at Newport, Rhode Island.

Korean War

He was promoted to hospital corpsman third class on August 12, 1950.[7] On June 9, 1951, he was married to Dorothy Groff.[8] In July 1951, he was transferred to the Fleet Marine Force (FMF), Field Medical Service School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for combat field training, graduating in September[9] as a Field Medical Service Technician (HM-8404).[10] He was then assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division (was the 3rd Marine Brigade until January 1952), Fleet Marine Force, as a FMF corpsman, at Camp Pendleton, California.[11] In March 1952, he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, at Camp Pendleton until July 1952.[12] On July 21, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Division in Korea,[13] where he was assigned to E Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.[14]

Death and burial

Benfold was killed in action on September 5, 1952, while saving the lives of two wounded Marines he was aiding in a crater from two enemy hand grenades at "Outpost Bruce" which was held by Marines of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines[15][16] in North Korea during the Battle of Bunker Hill (September 5–15, 1952) in western Korea.[17][18]

Benfold was buried with full military honors in Beverly National Cemetery, New Jersey. His grave can be found in the Distinguished Service Section, Grave 12.

Medal of Honor

Benfold was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. On July 16, 1953, The medal was presented by Rear Admiral John H. Brown Jr., Commandant of the 4th Naval District, to his one-year-old son, Edward Joseph, who was his next of kin (NOK) as his wife remarried.[19][20]

Benfold's Medal of Honor citation reads:

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

HOSPITAL CORPSMAN THIRD CLASS EDWARD C. BENFOLD
UNITED STATES NAVY

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Hospital Corpsman, attached to a company in the First Marine Division during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on September 5, 1952. When his company was subjected to heavy artillery and mortar barrages, followed by a determined assault during the hours of darkness by an enemy force estimated at battalion strength, HC3c. BENFOLD resolutely moved from position to position in the face of intense hostile fire, treating the wounded and lending words of encouragement. Leaving the protection of his sheltered position to treat the wounded when the platoon area in which he was working was attacked from both the front and the rear, he moved forward to an exposed ridge line where he observed two Marines in a large crater. As he approached the two men to determine their condition, an enemy soldier threw two grenades into the crater while two other enemy charged the position. Picking up a grenade in each hand, HC3c. BENFOLD leaped out of the crater and hurled himself against the onrushing hostile soldiers, pushing the grenades against their chests and killing both the attackers. Mortally wounded while carrying out this heroic act, HC3c. BENFOLD, by his great personal valor and resolute spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death, was directly responsible for saving the lives of his two comrades. His exceptional courage reflects the highest credit upon himself and enhances the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for others.


Harry S. Truman

Military awards

Benfold's military decorations and awards include:

Legacy

USS Benfold

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) was named after Hospital Corpsman Third Class Edward C. Benfold and commissioned on March 30, 1996, at Broadway Pier in San Diego.[21][22][23]

Benfold Medical Center

The Benfold Center, Naval Branch Health Clinic (Building S-771), in Millington, Tennessee was named in his honor.[24]

Medal of Honor Memorial

Listed on Audubon High School's Medal of Honor Memorial (1994).[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ Medal of Honor, Benfold obituary. Retrieved Jan. 19, 2014
  2. ^ [2] "Merchant Marines Killed on US Operated Ships during WWII". Retrieved Jan. 19, 2014
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-boats, Castilla". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  4. ^ Braun, Martin Z. "A New Book Chronicles Audubon's Ties To Ship The Uss Benfold, Named For A Korean War Hero From Town, Enjoys A Special Relationship With Borough Residents.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 19, 1999. Accessed May 29, 2013.
  5. ^ Marine Corps History Division http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who's%20Who/A-C/Benfold_EC.aspx 2016-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ US. Naval Institute, Naval History & Heritage Command, "Naval History Blog, HM3 Edward C. Benfold", September 5, 2011 [3]
  7. ^ Marine Corps History Division http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who's%20Who/A-C/Benfold_EC.aspx 2016-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Medal of Honor, Benfold obituary. Retrieved Jan. 19, 2014.
  9. ^ Veterans Tributes http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1388
  10. ^ Marine Corps History Division http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who's%20Who/A-C/Benfold_EC.aspx 2016-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Veterans Tributes http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1388
  12. ^ Veterans Tributes http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1388
  13. ^ Marine Corps History Division http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who's%20Who/A-C/Benfold_EC.aspx 2016-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Marine Corps History Division http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who's%20Who/A-C/Benfold_EC.aspx 2016-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Note: E Company, 2/1 Marines was temporary attached to I Company, 3/5 Marines: Marine Corps History and Museum Division, Korean War Commemorative Series, 2001, Dept. of Defense-50th Anniversary of Korean War- "Stalemate, U.S. Marines from Bunker Hill to Hook" by Bernard Nalty http://www.koreanwar2.org/kwp2/usmckorea/PDF_Monographs/KoreanWar.Stalemate.pdf
  16. ^ U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Vol. V, "Operations in West Korea", 1972, page 152-footnote 11 (Benfold, Outpost Bruce, I/3/5 Marines) http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/U.S.%20Marine%20Operations%20in%20Korea%20Vol%205%201950%20-%201953%20%20PCN%2019000264000_1.pdf
  17. ^ U.S. Navy Institute, Naval History & Heritage Command, "Naval History Blog, HM3 Edward C. Benfold, September 5, 2011
  18. ^ Marine Corps History Division
  19. ^ Medal of Honor, Benfold obituary. Retrieved Jan. 19, 2014
  20. ^ Marine Corps History Division http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who's%20Who/A-C/Benfold_EC.aspx 2016-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ USS Benfold commissioning invitation for March 13, 1996; changed to March 30 [6] 2013-11-01 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ . Archived from the original on 2014-07-08. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  23. ^ . Archived from the original on 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  24. ^ Medal of Honor, Benfold obituary. Retrieved Jan. 19. 2014
  25. ^ Medal of Honor. Benfold obituary. Retrieved Jan. 19, 2014
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
  • "Edward Clyde Benfold". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved December 13, 2007.
  • "Global Security". Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  • "USS Benfold (DDG-65) Official Navy Website". United States Navy. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  • Who's Who in Marine Corps History[permanent dead link]

January 06, 2023
edward, clyde, benfold, january, 1931, september, 1952, united, states, navy, hospital, corpsman, third, class, killed, action, while, attached, marine, corps, rifle, company, during, battle, bunker, hill, 1952, korean, born, 1931, january, 1931staten, island,. Edward Clyde Benfold January 15 1931 September 5 1952 was a United States Navy hospital corpsman third class who was killed in action while attached to a Marine Corps rifle company during the Battle of Bunker Hill 1952 in the Korean War Edward Clyde BenfoldBorn 1931 01 15 January 15 1931Staten Island New York U S DiedSeptember 5 1952 1952 09 05 aged 21 near Panmunjom KoreaBuriedBeverly National Cemetery Beverly New Jersey Distinguished Service Section Grave 12 Allegiance United StatesService wbr branch United States NavyYears of service1949 1952RankHospital Corpsman Third ClassUnitE Company 2nd Battalion 1st MarinesBattles warsKorean War Battle of Bunker Hill DOW AwardsMedal of HonorPurple Heart MedalHe was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty on September 5 1952 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 U S Navy 2 1 Korean War 2 1 1 Death and burial 2 1 2 Medal of Honor 3 Military awards 4 Legacy 5 See also 6 ReferencesEarly life and education EditBenfold was born in Staten Island the son of Edward and Glenys Benfold His father served as a Merchant Marine Officer 1st engineer during World War II and was killed in action serving on the Honduran ship Castilla on June 7 1942 when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U 107 near Cuba 1 2 3 Benfold grew up in Haddon Heights New Jersey and lived in nearby Audubon where he graduated from Audubon High School in 1949 4 U S Navy EditBenfold enlisted in the United States Navy on June 27 1949 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania 5 He completed Navy recruit training in Great Lakes Illinois in December and was selected for A school training there at the Naval Hospital Corps School 6 He was promoted to hospital apprentice in 1949 In April 1950 he was transferred to the Naval Hospital at Newport Rhode Island Korean War Edit He was promoted to hospital corpsman third class on August 12 1950 7 On June 9 1951 he was married to Dorothy Groff 8 In July 1951 he was transferred to the Fleet Marine Force FMF Field Medical Service School at Camp Lejeune North Carolina for combat field training graduating in September 9 as a Field Medical Service Technician HM 8404 10 He was then assigned to the 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines 3rd Marine Division was the 3rd Marine Brigade until January 1952 Fleet Marine Force as a FMF corpsman at Camp Pendleton California 11 In March 1952 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion 3rd Marines 3rd Marine Division Fleet Marine Force at Camp Pendleton until July 1952 12 On July 21 he was assigned to the 1st Marine Division in Korea 13 where he was assigned to E Company 2nd Battalion 1st Marine Regiment 14 Death and burial Edit Benfold was killed in action on September 5 1952 while saving the lives of two wounded Marines he was aiding in a crater from two enemy hand grenades at Outpost Bruce which was held by Marines of I Company 3rd Battalion 5th Marines 15 16 in North Korea during the Battle of Bunker Hill September 5 15 1952 in western Korea 17 18 Benfold was buried with full military honors in Beverly National Cemetery New Jersey His grave can be found in the Distinguished Service Section Grave 12 Medal of Honor Edit Benfold was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously On July 16 1953 The medal was presented by Rear Admiral John H Brown Jr Commandant of the 4th Naval District to his one year old son Edward Joseph who was his next of kin NOK as his wife remarried 19 20 Benfold s Medal of Honor citation reads The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to HOSPITAL CORPSMAN THIRD CLASS EDWARD C BENFOLDUNITED STATES NAVY for service as set forth in the followingCITATION For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Hospital Corpsman attached to a company in the First Marine Division during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on September 5 1952 When his company was subjected to heavy artillery and mortar barrages followed by a determined assault during the hours of darkness by an enemy force estimated at battalion strength HC3c BENFOLD resolutely moved from position to position in the face of intense hostile fire treating the wounded and lending words of encouragement Leaving the protection of his sheltered position to treat the wounded when the platoon area in which he was working was attacked from both the front and the rear he moved forward to an exposed ridge line where he observed two Marines in a large crater As he approached the two men to determine their condition an enemy soldier threw two grenades into the crater while two other enemy charged the position Picking up a grenade in each hand HC3c BENFOLD leaped out of the crater and hurled himself against the onrushing hostile soldiers pushing the grenades against their chests and killing both the attackers Mortally wounded while carrying out this heroic act HC3c BENFOLD by his great personal valor and resolute spirit of self sacrifice in the face of almost certain death was directly responsible for saving the lives of his two comrades His exceptional courage reflects the highest credit upon himself and enhances the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service He gallantly gave his life for others Harry S TrumanMilitary awards EditBenfold s military decorations and awards include Medal of Honor Purple Heart Medal Navy Unit Commendation Navy Good Conduct Medal National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal w FMF Combat Operations Insignia and 3 16 bronze campaign star Republic of Korea Presidential unit Citation United Nations Service Medal Korean War Service MedalLegacy EditUSS BenfoldThe Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Benfold DDG 65 was named after Hospital Corpsman Third Class Edward C Benfold and commissioned on March 30 1996 at Broadway Pier in San Diego 21 22 23 Benfold Medical CenterThe Benfold Center Naval Branch Health Clinic Building S 771 in Millington Tennessee was named in his honor 24 Medal of Honor MemorialListed on Audubon High School s Medal of Honor Memorial 1994 25 See also Edit Biography portalList of Korean War Medal of Honor recipientsReferences Edit 1 Medal of Honor Benfold obituary Retrieved Jan 19 2014 2 Merchant Marines Killed on US Operated Ships during WWII Retrieved Jan 19 2014 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U boats Castilla German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 19 January 2014 Braun Martin Z A New Book Chronicles Audubon s Ties To Ship The Uss Benfold Named For A Korean War Hero From Town Enjoys A Special Relationship With Borough Residents The Philadelphia Inquirer September 19 1999 Accessed May 29 2013 Marine Corps History Division http www mcu usmc mil historydivision Pages Who s 20Who A C Benfold EC aspx Archived 2016 03 16 at the Wayback Machine US Naval Institute Naval History amp Heritage Command Naval History Blog HM3 Edward C Benfold September 5 2011 3 Marine Corps History Division http www mcu usmc mil historydivision Pages Who s 20Who A C Benfold EC aspx Archived 2016 03 16 at the Wayback Machine 4 Medal of Honor Benfold obituary Retrieved Jan 19 2014 Veterans Tributes http www veterantributes org TributeDetail php recordID 1388 Marine Corps History Division http www mcu usmc mil historydivision Pages Who s 20Who A C Benfold EC aspx Archived 2016 03 16 at the Wayback Machine Veterans Tributes http www veterantributes org TributeDetail php recordID 1388 Veterans Tributes http www veterantributes org TributeDetail php recordID 1388 Marine Corps History Division http www mcu usmc mil historydivision Pages Who s 20Who A C Benfold EC aspx Archived 2016 03 16 at the Wayback Machine Marine Corps History Division http www mcu usmc mil historydivision Pages Who s 20Who A C Benfold EC aspx Archived 2016 03 16 at the Wayback Machine Note E Company 2 1 Marines was temporary attached to I Company 3 5 Marines Marine Corps History and Museum Division Korean War Commemorative Series 2001 Dept of Defense 50th Anniversary of Korean War Stalemate U S Marines from Bunker Hill to Hook by Bernard Nalty http www koreanwar2 org kwp2 usmckorea PDF Monographs KoreanWar Stalemate pdf U S Marine Operations in Korea 1950 1953 Vol V Operations in West Korea 1972 page 152 footnote 11 Benfold Outpost Bruce I 3 5 Marines http www marines mil Portals 59 Publications U S 20Marine 20Operations 20in 20Korea 20Vol 205 201950 20 201953 20 20PCN 2019000264000 1 pdf U S Navy Institute Naval History amp Heritage Command Naval History Blog HM3 Edward C Benfold September 5 2011 Marine Corps History Division 5 Medal of Honor Benfold obituary Retrieved Jan 19 2014 Marine Corps History Division http www mcu usmc mil historydivision Pages Who s 20Who A C Benfold EC aspx Archived 2016 03 16 at the Wayback Machine USS Benfold commissioning invitation for March 13 1996 changed to March 30 6 Archived 2013 11 01 at the Wayback Machine USS Benfold poster Onward With Valor Archived from the original on 2014 07 08 Retrieved 2013 06 09 USS Benfold photo Archived from the original on 2013 11 01 Retrieved 2013 06 09 7 Medal of Honor Benfold obituary Retrieved Jan 19 2014 8 Medal of Honor Benfold obituary Retrieved Jan 19 2014 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Edward Clyde Benfold Claim to Fame Medal of Honor recipients Find a Grave Retrieved December 13 2007 Global Security Retrieved September 27 2010 USS Benfold DDG 65 Official Navy Website United States Navy Retrieved September 27 2010 Who s Who in Marine Corps History permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Clyde Benfold amp oldid 1085442085, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.