Francis, the son of Art Benoit of Buena Park, California and Mary Jane Kellenburger of West Duluth Minnesota enlisted in the US Navy on October 22 1964 in Fargo North Dakota. In Vietnam he was assigned as a Medical Corpsman to H&S Company, attached to Company E, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
On March 7, Company B of the 1st Battalion, and Company E , 2d Battalion were placed under the OPCON (Operational Control) of the 3d Marine Division and were deployed to the Khe Sanh Combat Base in the Huong Hoa District of Quang Tri Province. On the night of March 16 into March 17 on the northern defense perimeter in the vicinity of Hill 861S Company E came under attack by a large NVA force as the Marines began to move their night patrol base to a new location. Company B reacted and joined in the battle and when the battle subsided, The Marines had suffered nineteen men killed in action, fifty eight wounded, two who would later die of their wounds. HM3 Benoit was one of the casualties, he was killed in action as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds from a hostile explosive device.
* HM3 Francis A. Benoit was presented the NAVY CROSS posthumously "For extraordinary heroism while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion Ninth Marines ....on 16 March 1967".
CITATION: NAVY CROSS
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Hospitalman Third Class Francis Arthur Benoit (NSN: 9140346), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on 16 March 1967 while serving with Company E, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Republic of Vietnam. While returning to the Company Command Post from a night platoon patrol base, Petty Officer Benoit's platoon was suddenly attacked by an enemy force employing small arms, automatic weapons, and hand grenades. Observing several wounded men, Petty Officer Benoit rushed forward into the intense enemy fire to administer medical aid, but was wounded, himself, by a hand grenade before reaching the casualties. Stunned and temporarily unable to move, he waited for the wounded to be brought to him, and then quickly and competently rendered medical assistance while exposed to enemy fire. After the attack had subsided and the wounded had been put aboard an evacuation helicopter, he refused to be evacuated and thus leave the platoon without a Corpsman. When the second helicopter came in, the landing zone was hit by enemy mortar fire, inflicting additional casualties. Petty Officer Benoit again stayed behind to treat the wounded. He was helping the last wounded man into the third helicopter, before boarding himself, when he was fatally wounded by an enemy mortar round. By his technical skill, courage and inspiring devotion to duty, Petty Officer Benoit undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his fallen comrades. His heroic actions were in the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
* Citation courtesy of Bruce Barney FAG Member 48607679
Casualties:
H&S Company
Francis Arthur Benoit
Andrew Albert Alderman
Company E
Norman Richard Catlin
James Gormon Goetz
Charley Edward Gunn
Ronald Joseph Imperiale
George Dennis Johnson
Lloyd Nelson Kurtz
William Charles Lamon
Julian Allan Mc Kee
Joe Lawrence Schroeder
Richard Jerome Vedder - Died of Wounds
Company B
John Herbert Cheeks - Died of Wounds
Michael James Daley
Donald Eugene Harper Jr.
Sylvester Land
Danny Eugene Nicklow
James Earl Perry
Alfred Pino
David Rhoades
Ted Williams
On March 7, Company B of the 1st Battalion, and Company E , 2d Battalion were placed under the OPCON (Operational Control) of the 3d Marine Division and were deployed to the Khe Sanh Combat Base in the Huong Hoa District of Quang Tri Province. On the night of March 16 into March 17 on the northern defense perimeter in the vicinity of Hill 861S Company E came under attack by a large NVA force as the Marines began to move their night patrol base to a new location. Company B reacted and joined in the battle and when the battle subsided, The Marines had suffered nineteen men killed in action, fifty eight wounded, two who would later die of their wounds. HM3 Benoit was one of the casualties, he was killed in action as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds from a hostile explosive device.
* HM3 Francis A. Benoit was presented the NAVY CROSS posthumously "For extraordinary heroism while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion Ninth Marines ....on 16 March 1967".
CITATION: NAVY CROSS
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Hospitalman Third Class Francis Arthur Benoit (NSN: 9140346), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on 16 March 1967 while serving with Company E, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Republic of Vietnam. While returning to the Company Command Post from a night platoon patrol base, Petty Officer Benoit's platoon was suddenly attacked by an enemy force employing small arms, automatic weapons, and hand grenades. Observing several wounded men, Petty Officer Benoit rushed forward into the intense enemy fire to administer medical aid, but was wounded, himself, by a hand grenade before reaching the casualties. Stunned and temporarily unable to move, he waited for the wounded to be brought to him, and then quickly and competently rendered medical assistance while exposed to enemy fire. After the attack had subsided and the wounded had been put aboard an evacuation helicopter, he refused to be evacuated and thus leave the platoon without a Corpsman. When the second helicopter came in, the landing zone was hit by enemy mortar fire, inflicting additional casualties. Petty Officer Benoit again stayed behind to treat the wounded. He was helping the last wounded man into the third helicopter, before boarding himself, when he was fatally wounded by an enemy mortar round. By his technical skill, courage and inspiring devotion to duty, Petty Officer Benoit undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his fallen comrades. His heroic actions were in the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
* Citation courtesy of Bruce Barney FAG Member 48607679
Casualties:
H&S Company
Francis Arthur Benoit
Andrew Albert Alderman
Company E
Norman Richard Catlin
James Gormon Goetz
Charley Edward Gunn
Ronald Joseph Imperiale
George Dennis Johnson
Lloyd Nelson Kurtz
William Charles Lamon
Julian Allan Mc Kee
Joe Lawrence Schroeder
Richard Jerome Vedder - Died of Wounds
Company B
John Herbert Cheeks - Died of Wounds
Michael James Daley
Donald Eugene Harper Jr.
Sylvester Land
Danny Eugene Nicklow
James Earl Perry
Alfred Pino
David Rhoades
Ted Williams
Francis, the son of Art Benoit of Buena Park, California and Mary Jane Kellenburger of West Duluth Minnesota enlisted in the US Navy on October 22 1964 in Fargo North Dakota. In Vietnam he was assigned as a Medical Corpsman to H&S Company, attached to Company E, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
On March 7, Company B of the 1st Battalion, and Company E , 2d Battalion were placed under the OPCON (Operational Control) of the 3d Marine Division and were deployed to the Khe Sanh Combat Base in the Huong Hoa District of Quang Tri Province. On the night of March 16 into March 17 on the northern defense perimeter in the vicinity of Hill 861S Company E came under attack by a large NVA force as the Marines began to move their night patrol base to a new location. Company B reacted and joined in the battle and when the battle subsided, The Marines had suffered nineteen men killed in action, fifty eight wounded, two who would later die of their wounds. HM3 Benoit was one of the casualties, he was killed in action as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds from a hostile explosive device.
* HM3 Francis A. Benoit was presented the NAVY CROSS posthumously "For extraordinary heroism while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion Ninth Marines ....on 16 March 1967".
CITATION: NAVY CROSS
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Hospitalman Third Class Francis Arthur Benoit (NSN: 9140346), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on 16 March 1967 while serving with Company E, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Republic of Vietnam. While returning to the Company Command Post from a night platoon patrol base, Petty Officer Benoit's platoon was suddenly attacked by an enemy force employing small arms, automatic weapons, and hand grenades. Observing several wounded men, Petty Officer Benoit rushed forward into the intense enemy fire to administer medical aid, but was wounded, himself, by a hand grenade before reaching the casualties. Stunned and temporarily unable to move, he waited for the wounded to be brought to him, and then quickly and competently rendered medical assistance while exposed to enemy fire. After the attack had subsided and the wounded had been put aboard an evacuation helicopter, he refused to be evacuated and thus leave the platoon without a Corpsman. When the second helicopter came in, the landing zone was hit by enemy mortar fire, inflicting additional casualties. Petty Officer Benoit again stayed behind to treat the wounded. He was helping the last wounded man into the third helicopter, before boarding himself, when he was fatally wounded by an enemy mortar round. By his technical skill, courage and inspiring devotion to duty, Petty Officer Benoit undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his fallen comrades. His heroic actions were in the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
* Citation courtesy of Bruce Barney FAG Member 48607679
Casualties:
H&S Company
Francis Arthur Benoit
Andrew Albert Alderman
Company E
Norman Richard Catlin
James Gormon Goetz
Charley Edward Gunn
Ronald Joseph Imperiale
George Dennis Johnson
Lloyd Nelson Kurtz
William Charles Lamon
Julian Allan Mc Kee
Joe Lawrence Schroeder
Richard Jerome Vedder - Died of Wounds
Company B
John Herbert Cheeks - Died of Wounds
Michael James Daley
Donald Eugene Harper Jr.
Sylvester Land
Danny Eugene Nicklow
James Earl Perry
Alfred Pino
David Rhoades
Ted Williams
On March 7, Company B of the 1st Battalion, and Company E , 2d Battalion were placed under the OPCON (Operational Control) of the 3d Marine Division and were deployed to the Khe Sanh Combat Base in the Huong Hoa District of Quang Tri Province. On the night of March 16 into March 17 on the northern defense perimeter in the vicinity of Hill 861S Company E came under attack by a large NVA force as the Marines began to move their night patrol base to a new location. Company B reacted and joined in the battle and when the battle subsided, The Marines had suffered nineteen men killed in action, fifty eight wounded, two who would later die of their wounds. HM3 Benoit was one of the casualties, he was killed in action as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds from a hostile explosive device.
* HM3 Francis A. Benoit was presented the NAVY CROSS posthumously "For extraordinary heroism while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion Ninth Marines ....on 16 March 1967".
CITATION: NAVY CROSS
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Hospitalman Third Class Francis Arthur Benoit (NSN: 9140346), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on 16 March 1967 while serving with Company E, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Republic of Vietnam. While returning to the Company Command Post from a night platoon patrol base, Petty Officer Benoit's platoon was suddenly attacked by an enemy force employing small arms, automatic weapons, and hand grenades. Observing several wounded men, Petty Officer Benoit rushed forward into the intense enemy fire to administer medical aid, but was wounded, himself, by a hand grenade before reaching the casualties. Stunned and temporarily unable to move, he waited for the wounded to be brought to him, and then quickly and competently rendered medical assistance while exposed to enemy fire. After the attack had subsided and the wounded had been put aboard an evacuation helicopter, he refused to be evacuated and thus leave the platoon without a Corpsman. When the second helicopter came in, the landing zone was hit by enemy mortar fire, inflicting additional casualties. Petty Officer Benoit again stayed behind to treat the wounded. He was helping the last wounded man into the third helicopter, before boarding himself, when he was fatally wounded by an enemy mortar round. By his technical skill, courage and inspiring devotion to duty, Petty Officer Benoit undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his fallen comrades. His heroic actions were in the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
* Citation courtesy of Bruce Barney FAG Member 48607679
Casualties:
H&S Company
Francis Arthur Benoit
Andrew Albert Alderman
Company E
Norman Richard Catlin
James Gormon Goetz
Charley Edward Gunn
Ronald Joseph Imperiale
George Dennis Johnson
Lloyd Nelson Kurtz
William Charles Lamon
Julian Allan Mc Kee
Joe Lawrence Schroeder
Richard Jerome Vedder - Died of Wounds
Company B
John Herbert Cheeks - Died of Wounds
Michael James Daley
Donald Eugene Harper Jr.
Sylvester Land
Danny Eugene Nicklow
James Earl Perry
Alfred Pino
David Rhoades
Ted Williams
Gravesite Details
On the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall - Panel 16E, Line 88.
Family Members
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