Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Regiment:

    142d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    36th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 8, 1918

    War Department, General Orders 66 (May 21, 1919)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Corbett Benefield (ASN: 1490084), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company E, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Etienne, France, 8 October 1918. Wounded in the arm by a machine-gun bullet while leading his squad through enemy entanglements, Corporal Benefield rallied his men and led them in an attack on the machine gun, which was enfilading the line, and captured the gun with its entire crew. Continuing on despite his wound, he was killed shortly afterward while leading his squad under a heavy enemy bombardment.