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A Conscientious Objector’s Medal of HonorVietnam | one comment | Print This Post | Email This Post
Bennett shrugged him off. Without a word he jumped up, intent only on saving the wounded man. A flurry of rifle shots rang out. Bennett fell, his young body riddled with bullets. Subscribe Today
On April 7, 1970, Tom Bennett’s 23rd birthday, President Richard M. Nixon presented his posthumous Medal of Honor to his mother and stepfather. When first notified of the award, Bennett’s mother had considered refusing it, her way of protesting the war and the senseless loss of her son. But then her husband spoke up, No. It was the boys in his outfit that put him in for it. They wanted him to have it.
Thus Thomas W. Bennett became the only conscientious objector to earn the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, and only the second in history to be so recognized. The first was Desmond Doss, a Seventh Day Adventist who was cited for his heroism on Okinawa in World War II.
In August 1988 a youth center at Schofield Barracks on Oahu, Hawaii, was named for Bennett. It was an excellent choice. Tom’s adherence to his personal values, while still believing in and dying for his country, stands as a strong moral example to today’s young men and women.
This article was written by Edward F. Murphy and originally published in the June 2003 issue of Vietnam Magazine. For more great articles be sure to subscribe to Vietnam Magazine today! Pages: 1 2 3 4Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: 20th - 21st Century, Historical Conflicts, Vietnam War
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One Comment to “A Conscientious Objector’s Medal of Honor”
Sir, It appears to me that most of the above artical about Tom Bennett was actually written by Bonni McKeown, author of PEACEFUL PATRIOT, The Story of Tom Bennett. Where is the credit?Bob Miller, (Tom’s uncle)
By Robert B Miller on Jul 25, 2008 at 3:21 pm