[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16335]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          REMEMBERING STAFF SERGEANT HAROLD ``GEORGE'' BENNETT

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the memory of U.S. 
Army SSG Harold ``George'' Bennett. In the jungles of Vietnam, this 
young Arkansan displayed courage and honor while serving his Nation in 
uniform. Tragically, he became the first American prisoner of war 
executed by the Viet Cong. This year marks the 45th anniversary of his 
death, and I am proud to join his family later this month to 
posthumously honor him with the Silver Star, the third highest military 
decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the U.S. 
Armed Forces.
  George Bennett was born on October 16, 1940, in Perryville, AR, a 
small town that rests just northwest of Little Rock in the foothills of 
the Ozarks. His father, Gordon, was a veteran of World War I, and he 
instilled in his sons the values and rewards of service to country. All 
four would follow his footsteps into the U.S. Army.
  SGT George Bennett was trained in the Army as an airborne infantryman 
and served with the famed 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, made up of 
some of the finest soldiers in the world. He earned his Master 
Parachute Wings and Expert Infantry Badge before volunteering in 1964 
for service in what was a relatively unknown area of Southeast Asia 
called Vietnam.
  While deployed, Sergeant Bennett served as an infantry advisor to the 
33rd Ranger Battalion, one of South Vietnam's best trained and toughest 
units. On December 29, 1964, they were airlifted to the village of Binh 
Gia after it had been overrun by a division of Viet Cong. Immediately 
upon landing, Sergeant Bennett's unit was confronted by a well-dug-in 
regiment of enemy forces, and despite fighting furiously and 
courageously throughout the afternoon, their unit was decimated and 
overrun. Sergeant Bennett and his radio operator, PFC Charles Crafts, 
fell into the hands of the Viet Cong.
  Before being captured, Sergeant Bennett twice called off American 
helicopter pilots who were attempting to navigate through the combat 
zone to rescue him and his radioman. Displaying a remarkably calm 
demeanor, his focus seemed to be on their safety and not his own. His 
last words to his would-be rescuers were, ``Well, they are here now. My 
little people [his term for the South Vietnamese soldiers under his 
command] are laying down their weapons and they want me to turn off my 
radio. Thanks a lot for your help and God Bless You.''
  As a prisoner of war, the only thing more remarkable than the 
courageous resistance he displayed throughout his captivity was his 
steadfast devotion to duty, honor, and country. His faith in God and 
the trust of his fellow prisoners was unshakable. Sadly, the only way 
his captors could break his spirit of resistance was to execute him. 
Today, Sergeant Bennett lies in an unmarked grave known only to God, 
somewhere in the jungles of Vietnam.
  Mr. President, Sergeant Bennett was a selfless young man who answered 
his Nation's call to service and placed duty and honor above all else. 
Although he may no longer be with us, the example and selflessness of 
this brave young Arkansan will forever live on in our hearts. While a 
grateful nation could never adequately express their debt to men like 
George Bennett, it should take every opportunity to honor them and 
their families for the sacrifice they have paid on our behalf.

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