Thomas William Bennett
1947 - 1969
Personal History

Tommy Bill Bennett grew up in a Scouting family, following in the footsteps of his two older
brothers, Jim and George, both of whom were active Scouts in the Mountaineer Area Council.
In 1956 he became a Cub Scout in Pack No.65, sponsored by the Suncrest Elementary School
Parent Teachers Association in Morgantown, West Virginia. Not having a cub pack near his home
Tom organized a group of neighborhood boys and his mother, Gale Bennett Gray, became den
mother. In l958, when he was 11 years old, Tom became a Boy Scout in Troop No.  65,
sponsored by Drummond Chapel United Methodist Church, achieving the rank of Star in 1961.
This was the same scout unit in which his brothers belonged. He joined Explorer Post 65 in
1962, and became Post Associate Advisor in 1966.

Tom is pictured in this Black & White photo... the little boy on the right.


Tom was in many activities in Morgantown High School (Class of 1965) and had been elected 
the student body president. He also won the top office in the state high school Key Club 
(Kiwanis) organization, Governor of the West Virginia District.

Other activities/accomplishments/awards include:

•     Active in Little League Baseball.

•     Chairman of the West Virginia University Code of Conduct Committee.

•     Member, 1968 Festival of Ideas at WVU.

•     President of the University Ecumenical Council.

•     Recipient: Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Combat Medal and the Purple Heart.

•     Posthumously awarded by Congress the MEDAL of HONOR. 
      (It should be noted that Tom was only the second registered conscientious objector in the nation's history
      to be given this award)

**Thanks to Robert B. Miller<Rb_miller10@comcast.net>, brother of Gale Miller Bennett Gray,
Tom Bennett's mother.