Donald Vivian Bennett (May 9, 1915-November 28, 2005) retired as a four star general from the U.S. Army in 1974. He attended Michigan State University and graduated from West Point in 1940 then served overseas in WWII. Bennett won the Distinguished Service Cross as well as two Purple Hearts for his service. He was born in Lakeside, Ohio and has retired to Asheville, North Carolina. He entered military service from Ohio. May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: E pluribus unum (1789 to 1956) (Latin: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government  â€¢ President  â€¢ Vice President Federal republic George... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... Michigan State University (MSU) is a public university in East Lansing, Michigan. ... USMA redirects here, but this abbreviation can also mean U.S. Metric Association. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. ... The Purple Heart is a U.S. military decoration awarded in the name of the President of the United States to those who have been wounded or killed while serving in, or with, the U.S. military after April 5, 1917. ... Lakeside is a private community in northern Ohio, United States, on the shores of Lake Erie. ... Asheville City Hall. ...

As a Lieutenant Colonel, Bennett, along with the 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion on the June 6, 1944 landed with the second wave at 0720 on D-Day. His party was subjected to a tremendous volume of machine gun fire which inflicted 50 percent casualties before they reached the comparative safety of the shingle at the base of the cliff adjoining the beach. Observing that following units were pinned down on the beach, he immediately left his cover and moved about the beach under heavy fire in order to assemble and reorganize the infantry assault companies, four tanks, and an antiaircraft unit. June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Land on Normandy In military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. ...

By redistributing the remaining officers and equipment; by emplacing the .50 calibre machine guns of the antiaircraft unit so as to give close support to the infantry; and by radioing for tank and artillery fire support from the LCTs, he organized a sizeable force and at about 10:00 hours, which successfully assaulted the ridge. He then continued moving about the beach under intense fire and succeeded in locating a protected place to bring his battalion and move it across the beach. Lieutenant Colonel Bennett, in disregarding his own safety under such heavy enemy fire throughout the day and in his clear thinking, contributed immeasurably to the establishment of the beachhead.

General Bennett recounts his WWII experience in his memoir, Honor Untarnished, published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC in 2003. General Bennett also served as superintendent of West Point from 1966 to 1969. He retired in 1974 as commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific Command. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... History Also known as USARPAC, the U.S. Army Pacific Command is the army component unit of the U.S. Pacific Command, except the units in Korea. ...

The General died on November 28, 2005 at the age of 90 and was buried at the U.S. Military Academy Cemetary in West Point, New York.

General Donald V. Bennett should not be confused with the Australian-born Air Vice-Marshal Donald Bennett of the Royal Air Force during World War II or Major General Donald W. Bennett, USAF. An Air Vice Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Vice Marshal is the third most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War (sometimes WW2 or WWII), was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as...

External links

• Index of Donald Bennett, NameBase.
• West Point Obituary w/photo