A Mass for Thomas Francis Benbrook, 61, of O'Fallon, Mo., formerly of Blairstown, a Vietnam War helicopter pilot who was awarded the Bronze Star, will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in St. Jude's Church, Eisenhower Road, Blairstown. Arrangements are by the Newbaker Funeral Home, Blairstown.
Mr. Benbrook, who died Sunday, Oct. 24, in St. Joseph's Hospital, Lake St. Louis, Mo., was a civilian specialist on the Black Hawk helicopter project of the Army's Aviation Support Command, headquartered at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Alabama, for 17 years before retiring in 1998.
After joining the Navy in 1955, Mr. Benbrook served for 10 years as a crew member on fixed wing aircraft, flying off the U.S.S. Bennington during his first tour of duty in Vietnam. Mr. Benbrook then served two additional tours in Vietnam with the Army as a helicopter pilot.
He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, among numerous other medals during his three tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired in 1977 as a chief warrant officer.
A graduate of Austin Peay College, Clarksville, Tenn., Mr. Benbrook went on to earn a master's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota.
Born in Belleville, he moved to Blairstown in 1951 and lived there for many years before moving to O'Fallon.
Surviving are two daughters, a son, his mother, and three brothers.
Mr. Benbrook, who died Sunday, Oct. 24, in St. Joseph's Hospital, Lake St. Louis, Mo., was a civilian specialist on the Black Hawk helicopter project of the Army's Aviation Support Command, headquartered at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Alabama, for 17 years before retiring in 1998.
After joining the Navy in 1955, Mr. Benbrook served for 10 years as a crew member on fixed wing aircraft, flying off the U.S.S. Bennington during his first tour of duty in Vietnam. Mr. Benbrook then served two additional tours in Vietnam with the Army as a helicopter pilot.
He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, among numerous other medals during his three tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired in 1977 as a chief warrant officer.
A graduate of Austin Peay College, Clarksville, Tenn., Mr. Benbrook went on to earn a master's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota.
Born in Belleville, he moved to Blairstown in 1951 and lived there for many years before moving to O'Fallon.
Surviving are two daughters, a son, his mother, and three brothers.
A Mass for Thomas Francis Benbrook, 61, of O'Fallon, Mo., formerly of Blairstown, a Vietnam War helicopter pilot who was awarded the Bronze Star, will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in St. Jude's Church, Eisenhower Road, Blairstown. Arrangements are by the Newbaker Funeral Home, Blairstown.
Mr. Benbrook, who died Sunday, Oct. 24, in St. Joseph's Hospital, Lake St. Louis, Mo., was a civilian specialist on the Black Hawk helicopter project of the Army's Aviation Support Command, headquartered at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Alabama, for 17 years before retiring in 1998.
After joining the Navy in 1955, Mr. Benbrook served for 10 years as a crew member on fixed wing aircraft, flying off the U.S.S. Bennington during his first tour of duty in Vietnam. Mr. Benbrook then served two additional tours in Vietnam with the Army as a helicopter pilot.
He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, among numerous other medals during his three tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired in 1977 as a chief warrant officer.
A graduate of Austin Peay College, Clarksville, Tenn., Mr. Benbrook went on to earn a master's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota.
Born in Belleville, he moved to Blairstown in 1951 and lived there for many years before moving to O'Fallon.
Surviving are two daughters, a son, his mother, and three brothers.
Mr. Benbrook, who died Sunday, Oct. 24, in St. Joseph's Hospital, Lake St. Louis, Mo., was a civilian specialist on the Black Hawk helicopter project of the Army's Aviation Support Command, headquartered at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Alabama, for 17 years before retiring in 1998.
After joining the Navy in 1955, Mr. Benbrook served for 10 years as a crew member on fixed wing aircraft, flying off the U.S.S. Bennington during his first tour of duty in Vietnam. Mr. Benbrook then served two additional tours in Vietnam with the Army as a helicopter pilot.
He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, among numerous other medals during his three tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired in 1977 as a chief warrant officer.
A graduate of Austin Peay College, Clarksville, Tenn., Mr. Benbrook went on to earn a master's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota.
Born in Belleville, he moved to Blairstown in 1951 and lived there for many years before moving to O'Fallon.
Surviving are two daughters, a son, his mother, and three brothers.
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