A couple of weeks ago I received an email that originated from the office of the commanding general of my division inquiring into a soldier of mine, PFC Charley Benton. My initial thoughts were understandably, “what the hell did Benton do that the CG is involved?” Well, the following letter was sent to the general and I think it explains everything (editor’s note: all names and unit designations have been changed as releases were not obtained prior to publication):
DR. JAMES B. MORTON
5001 Main Street
Smalltown, USA
February 1, 2007
General Store
Commanding General
An Army Division
Dear General Store:
I want to thank you for having such fine and professional soldiers such as PFC Charley Benton under your command. PFC Charley Benton is the perfect example of the exemplary qualities of a US Army soldier.
On January 31, 2007, I was involved in a serious vehicular accident on I-25 near Big City. I was traveling in my 2004 Ford F-150 when I spun out of control on the ice at 70 mph. I was struck on my driver’s door, sprayed with broken glass, and sent skidding into the grassy median. The van that struck me vanished. Traffic never slowed. No one stopped to help. I sat stunned and in shock in the broken glass beside the twisted metal of my driver’s door. I remember looking up and seeing a man in a military uniform running across the highway dodging cars and sprinting to my assistance. He seemed like an angel. I was alone, scared, and in a cloudy stupor with a concussion. He climbed into the passenger seat and checked on my and calmed me. My cell phone rang, and I remember telling someone I was in an accident, but I would be alright now because the army had arrived. I felt incredibly safe and comforted.
A red sports car spun out of control and was following nearly my exact accident path heading for my vehicle but luckily stopped short. Once he knew I was alright, PFC Charley Benton immediately ran to help the young lady who was very shaken up. I called 911 and the highway patrol responded. The white van had vanished and it was reported as a “hit and run”. PFC Charley Benton mentioned he witnessed the accident and last remembered seeing the van driving across the grassy median. The officer instructed all of us to leave the area and move our damaged vehicles to a safer location at a nearby gas station. The red car, the highway patrol, and I all drove to the station and noticed that PFC Charley Benton was still back at the scene of the accident. We saw him suddenly run across the median to the far highway and disappear down a very steep ravine. He found the van that had vanished. After striking my vehicle in the west bound lanes, the white van slid through the median, crossed the east bound lanes, and rolled multiple times into a very steep and deep ravine disappearing into the trees. The driver was in the van. PFC Charley Benton summoned more emergency crews to the scene to further help with the accident. If not for the heroic efforts of PFC Charley Benton, the van might have remained hidden along with the injured driver.
PFC Charley Benton acted exactly as I would expect from any finely trained U.S. Army soldier. He was heroic, put his life in jeopardy in order to save others, acted with professionalism, valor, and of course “left no man behind.” He is a fine example of why I am continuously proud of our soldiers for what they do on a daily basis to protect us. He was the only person who stopped to help, and yet was just the person I would most expect to help others whether it be on the battlefield or just at home helping the injured and finding the missing.
Thank you so very much.
Sincerely,
Dr. James B. Morton
I just thought to share with you the caliber of young men and women serving in your Army these days. The CG himself pinned the Army Commendation Medal on PFC Benton last week. Sgt Hook out.
Posted by Hook @ 2052 zulu | | Permalink
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