Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

62d Armored Field Artillery Battalion, V Corps, First Army, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

August 9th, 1944

Awarded for:

Operation Neptune

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) Donald Vivian Bennett (ASN: 0-23001), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 62d Field Artillery Battalion, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. When Lieutenant Colonel Bennett landed with the second wave at 0720 on D-Day, his party was subjected to a tremendous volume of machine gun fire which inflicted 50 per cent casualties before they reached the comparative safety of the shingle at the base of the cliff adjoining the beach. Observing that following units were pinned down on the beach, he immediately left his cover and moved about the beach under heavy fire in order to assemble and reorganize the infantry assault companies, four tanks and an anti-aircraft unit. By redistributing the remaining officers and equipment; by emplacing the .50 caliber machine guns of the anti-aircraft unit so as to give close support from the LCT's, he organized a sizeable force and at about 1000 hours successfully assaulted the ridge. He then continued moving about the beach under intense fire and succeeded in locating a protected place to bring in his battalion and move it across the beach. Lieutenant Colonel Bennett, in disregarding his own safety under such heavy enemy fire throughout the day and in his clear thinking, contributed immeasurably to the establishment of the beachhead. His inspiring leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army."

Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 45

Rank:

Major General

Awarded on:

August 22nd, 1968

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Donald Vivian Bennett (ASN: 0-23001), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, during the period from January 1966 through June 1968."

Department of the Army, General Orders No. 44

Rank:

Major General

Unit:

VII Corps

"Major General Donald Vivian Bennett (ASN: 0-23001), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General, SEVENTH Corps, from 1968 to 1969."

Second DSM received as oak leaf cluster.

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Lieutenant General

Unit:

Defense Intelligence Agency, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Government

"Lieutenant General Donald Vivian Bennett (ASN: 0-23001), United States Army, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, from 1969 to 1972."

Third DSM received as oak leaf cluster.

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

General

Unit:

Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), U.S. Army

"General Donald Vivian Bennett (ASN: 0-23001), United States Army, was awarded a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States as Commanding in Chief, United Nations Command Korea from 1972 to 1973, and as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Pacific from 1973 to 1974."

Fourth DSM received as oak leaf cluster.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

S-3 Section, 37th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division "Indianhead", U.S. Army

"Major (Field Artillery) Donald Vivian Bennett (ASN: 0-23001), United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as S-3 (Operations), 37th Field Artillery Battalion, from 1942 to 1943."

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Rank:

Colonel

Unit:

G-3 Section, Far East Command (FECOM), U.S. Army

"Colonel (Field Artillery) Donald Vivian Bennett (ASN: 0-23001), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States with the G-3 (Operations and Training) Section, Headquarters, Army Forces in the Far East, from 1952 to 1954."

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

HQ, Seventh Army, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

June 10th, 1959

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit to Brigadier General Donald Vivian Bennett (ASN: 0-23001), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States with Headquarters, SEVENTH Army, from 22 May 1957 to 1 April 1959."

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Major General

"Major General Donald Vivian Bennett (ASN: 0-23001), United States Army, was awarded a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 1963 to 1966."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Second PH received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

W/ Arrowhead and 3 bronze service stars

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With 1 bronze service star

Second ARCOM received as oeak leaf cluster.