Colonel George C. Benjamin, United States Army, Retired

Col. George C. Benjamin became a member of this Chapter in Sept 1974. It was approximately four and one half years earlier that he retired from the United States Army after serving faithfully for more than thirty memorable years on active duty. His service in both peace and war was marked by professionalism, dignity, honor and courage.

He brought to our chapter a host of traits and qualities that allowed him to make significant contributions to the operations and functions of this Chapter. He quickly revealed himself to be a team player and a great recruiter of new members. He also served a good number of years as an auditor of the Chapter’s Financial Records. He served and exhibited great leadership qualities as the twentieth commander of the Chapter. For the past fifteen years, he has been our Marshall. Over the total years he has been there with his camera to record the picture history of our chapter while assuring that our National Headquarters had articles for publications.

In retrospect, his service to our country during WWII was of such significance that it demands to be remembered concurrently with his service to our Chapter as a companion.

He served primarily in the mounted arm of the United States Army. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry prior to the beginning of WWII. Lieutenants of Cavalry in the course of their duties followed a relatively simple but highly effective principle of leadership. “Take care of the horses first, then see to the needs of your men. Do all these things before you dare to think of yourself” — His performance of duties propelled him in WWII.

He was assigned to the ₅th Armored Division prior to the invasion of France at Normandy. He landed with the division and he fought in all five WWII campaigns in Europe to include the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded a battlefield promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and took command of the 5th Armored Division’s Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. The Armored Division’s Cavalry Squadron is the eyes and ears of the division. In the Division’s advance to contact or exploitation phase, the cavalry squadron leads the division or is on its flank. On many occasions the 5th Armored Division was General Patton’s lead division in his attack across France and then Germany. The combat during those days was extremely intense.