Rank: First Lieutenant
Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 1981 – Air Observation Pilot
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Army Aviator Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: OH-6A, Tail # 67-16234, Co-pilot
Flight class: 68-14, Fort Wolters, Texas
Enlisted by: Reserve
Commission Source: Armor OCS Class 27-67 G1, Fort Knox, Kentucky
Date of birth: 14-May-1947
Hometown: Jerome, Idaho
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 20-Jun-1966
Start of tour: 21-Oct-1968
Incident date: 25-Nov-1968
Date of casualty: 25-Nov-1968
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
Johnny William Benton died from would received while co-pilot of military aircraft on reconnaissance operation when hit by hostile small arms fire. Aircraft did not crash or burn.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Jerome Cemetery, Jerome, Idaho, USA
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DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
POSTHUMOUS
FIRST LIEUTENANT JOHNNY WILLIAM BENTON, ARMOR
25 NOVEMBER 1968
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
First Lieutenant Benton distinguished himself for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 25 November 1968, while serving as an Aircraft Commander with the Air Cavalry Troop of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, while conducting a low level reconnaissance of a suspected Viet Cong position, Lieutenant Benton observed four armed communist soldiers entrenched in a well- fortified defensive position. After relaying the enemy’s position to the troop commander, Lieutenant Benton, showing a high degree of courage and complete disregard for his personal safety, fully exposed himself to the enemy ground elements while making three low level passes over the hostile positions in order to mark them precisely with smoke grenades. At this time, the friendly aircraft received an intense barrage of enemy automatic weapons fire, mortally wounding Lieutenant Benton. His heroic actions in locating the enemy elements were instrumental in their destruction. First Lieutenant Benton’s unwavering devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and disregard of personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 46 (January 7, 1969)