Edward Clyde Benfold (1931 - 1952)

Born 15 Jan 1931 in Staten Island, Richmond, New York, United States

Husband of Dorothy Groff — married 9 Jun 1951 in New Jersey

Died 5 Sep 1952 at age 21 in Korea

Edward Benfold was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Edward Benfold was awarded the Purple Heart.

Biography

Edward Benfold served in the United States Navy in the Korean War
Service started: 1952
Unit(s):
Service ended: 5 Sep 1952 (KIA)

*(Tribute)

• Son at Memorial
• USS Benrold, ship named in Benfole's Italic texthonor

• Final Taps
• (Ragged Old Flag, Johnny Cash)

Edward C. Benfold was born January 15, 1931, on Staten Island, NY, the only child of Glenys and Edward Benfold. He resided in Audubon, NJ, with his mother and attended Audubon High School. Edward Benfold and Dorothy Groff married on June 9, 1951. Their son Edward was born on May 15, 1952. He entered the United States Navy and was shipped to Korea, rank: Hospital Corpsman Third Class, United States Navy. Edward sacrificed his life to save others, September 5, 1952. His body was returned to the United States and was laid to rest in the Beverly Cemetery with full military honors. The congressional Medal of Honor was awarded July 6, 1953, at the Philadelphia Naval Base and was accepted by his widow Dorothy. A building on Needs Island, California, was dedicated and named for Benfold. His mother, Glenys, attended the dedication. His son, Edward, and his family reside in Cherry Hill, NJ. His mother, Glenys, passed away on September 2, 1989. His father, a Merchant Marine, was lost at sea during World War II. His body was never recovered.

Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Navy Years of service 1949-1952 Rank PO3 collar.png Hospital Corpsman Third Class Unit E Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines Battles/wars Korean War Awards Medal of Honor Purple Heart Medal 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 Korean War. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty on September 5, 1952.

Wikipedia:Edward Clyde Benfold [[1]]

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.

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

Benfold enlisted in the United States Navy on June 27, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. He was promoted to hospital apprentice in 1949. In April 1950, he was transferred to the Naval Hospital at Newport, Rhode Island.

[[2]]

Korean War

He was promoted to hospital corpsman third class on August 12, 1950. On June 9, 1951, he was married to Dorothy Groff. 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 as a Field Medical Service Technician (HM-8404). 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. In March 1952, he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, at Camp Pendleton until July 1952. On July 21, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Division in Korea, where he was assigned to E Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.

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. in North Korea during the battle of "Bunker Hill" (September 5–15, 1952); Bunker Hill was a ridgeline between Hills 122 and 124 in western Korea.

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.

[[3]]

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.

[[4]]

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.Benfold

Benfold'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,  3⁄16" bronze campaign star

Republic of Korea Presidential unit Citation

United Nations Service Medal

Korean War Service Medal

USS Benfold

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

[[5]]

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

• Medal of Honor Memorial Listed on Audubon High School's Medal of Honor Memorial (1994).

Sources:

^Medal of Honor, Benfold obituary.

^ "Merchant Marines Killed on US Operated Ships during WWII".

^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-boats, Castilla". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.

^ 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.

^ Marine Corps History Division [[6]]

^ US. Naval Institute, Naval History & Heritage Command, "Naval History Blog, HM3 Edward C. Benfold", September 5, 2011

^ Medal of Honor, Benfold obituary.

^ Veterans Tributes [[7]]

^ 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 [[8]]

^ 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) [[9]]

^ U.S. Navy Institute, Naval History & Heritage Command, "Naval History Blog, HM3 Edward C. Benfold, September 5, 2011

^ USS Benfold commissioning invitation for March 13, 1996; changed to March 30 ^ USS Benfold poster, "Onward With Valor" ^ USS Benfold photo 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.

"USS Benfold (DDG-65) Official Navy Website". United States Navy.

Who's Who in Marine Corps History

• Edward C. Benfold Medal of Honor Memorial site at Audubon High School. The Audubon High Students Honor War Heroes. The students at Audubon High School have paid tribute to men from the past:

Three men who fought well for America

So that freedom forever would last.

The Congressional Medal of Honor

Was awarded to each of these men:

Samuel Sampler, Edward Benfold, Nelson Brittin.

One for bravery at St. Etienne.

The other two died in Korea defending our right to be free ~~

Three men from the same little Borough!

Audubon is as proud as can be!!

All three lived and studied in Audubon.

And of that, present students are proud.

So they set up a fund raising program ~ ~

Plus a dinner which drew a large crowd ~ ~

And established a memorial foundation

To honor these valiant men:

So their actions would be long remembered,

In the future, as well as back then.

A special memorial was constructed

Then placed on the High School’s front lawn

And a scholarship fund was created

So their sacrifice will forever live on.

A new club at the school was established

To maintain the memorial site

And a system of lighting connected

So that all could observe it at night.

Special services are held three times yearly

To help keep their memory alive.

It’s a tribute created by students ~ ~

May their efforts forever survive!

By Craig C. Burgess