Robert W. Bennington

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Robert W. Bennington (RA13174309), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Browning Automatic Rifleman with Company K, 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Private First Class Benington distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Hill 189 near Yongsan, Korea, on the night of 15 – 16 September 1950. The defensive positions on Hill 189 were occupied by Private Bennington’s unit when, at about 2400 hours the enemy attacked the hill with great force, using machine-guns and other automatic weapons and grenades. Private Bennington, in position on the right flank of his platoon, continued firing into the enemy while the machine-guns of his unit were withdrawn to a secondary position. During this action, he killed an estimated fifty of the enemy and helped to thwart several enemy attempts to overrun this platoon’s position. At about 0300 hours on 16 September 1950, when the order to withdraw to higher ground was given, he continued to hold his position and to cover the withdrawal of the remainder of the platoon. He remained in this exposed position, firing upon the enemy, until he was killed by an enemy grenade
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 243 (March 16, 1951)