My walk today was dedicated in honor of :
Air Force 1LT. Robert E Bennett III, Age 25 of Springfield, NJ.
KIA Dec. 13, 1967 Vietnam
First Lieutenant Robert Elwood Bennett III, Served with the 558th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.
He is honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on Pannel 31E, Line 85.
Robert is buried at Cedar Cemetery, Montrose,CO.
1LT Robert E. Bennett III was the pilot of an F4C aircraft which was assigned a close air support mission in South Vietnam on December 13, 1967. His aircraft, the number two plane in a flight of two, had delivered its ordnance and the crewmembers were instructed to drop the canisters in a river. They acknowledged the transmission and immediately thereafter they were seen to eject with good parachutes. (There is no indication in public records why the crew ejected.) Bennett and his Bombardier/Navigator landed in a river (from coordinates, probably the Song Co Chien river, a large body of water separating Vinh Binh and Kien Hoa Provinces on the southern coast of Vietnam). According to Air Force records, one crewman was rescued uninjured, and he was the pilot of the aircraft. Defense Department records indicate that Bennett was the pilot of the aircraft. Bennett’s parachute sank before rescue personnel could reach him.
He was MIA until 2012 when his body was found and identified.
We had a great 5.80 mile walk this morning. The weather was great and it felt great being out their honoring this hero. I want to thank everyone who honked, waved, and saluted in helping me honor this hero.
Air Force 1LT. Robert E Bennett III will not be forgotten !
