John Howard Bennett was born on October 10, 1903, in Pennsylvania. He was the husband of Frances Bennett. He graduated from West Point in 1925. He served in various posts, including Governors Island, Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, Fort Thomas, and Fort Benning, where he was a student, instructor, and later Secretary of the Tank School. In 1940, he was assigned to the 31st Infantry Regiment, Philippine Division, commanding its Service Company and later serving on General Parker’s staff as Regimental Transportation Officer during the defense of Bataan.

After the surrender of Bataan in April 1942, he was declared missing and later confirmed as a POW. He endured the Death March and imprisonment in PW Camp #1 in Cabanatuan and Bilibid prisons. On December 15, 1944, while being transported aboard the prison ship Oryoku Maru, a U.S. airstrike struck the vessel, and Bennett was killed instantly. His remains were never recovered.

LTC Bennett’s name is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph in the Union Cemetery, Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio, USA.

Silver Star Citation:

(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) John Howard Bennett (ASN: 0-16204), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, 31st Infantry Regiment, II Philippine Corps, in action against the enemy in the Philippine Islands, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Lieutenant Colonel Bennett, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, alumni.westpointaog.org, valor.militarytimes.com