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<p><em>Lester Edsel “Les” Bennett</em> was born during the Great Depression, on August 15, 1932, to William Howard Bennett and Sona Farley Bennett, in Anjean, a small mining town in West Virginia. Life was hard, but a lasting part of his upbringing was a wide, genuine smile and a dry sense of humor; so too was determination. Les knew from a young age he wanted to attend West Point. With that goal, he applied himself to academics, the newspaper staff, football and marching band. After graduating from Hinton High School, WV, he served with the West Virginia National Guard and attended Virginia Tech for one year before receiving a senatorial appointment and entering West Point with the Class of 1957. </p>
<p>Les quickly adapted to the rigors of life at West Point, even when it meant staying up past taps to finish homework by flashlight under a blanket. He incorporated Duty, Honor, Country into his personal code of conduct. He formed friendships within his company (K-1) that were grounded in comradery and shared purpose and lasted a lifetime. In his words, West Point opened the doors to levels of responsibility and accomplishment unimaginable to him growing up. </p>
<p>Les’s most significant West Point experience happened on a blind date his yearling year. He met Ann Surico, a quiet, Italian girl from Poughkeepsie, NY. For three years she made the weekends something to look forward to and became the love of his life. They married on graduation day in the Cadet Chapel and, from then on, she was by his side as his bride, loyal supporter and best friend through 67 years of marriage. </p>
<p>After commissioning in the Infantry, Les reported to Fort Benning, GA for the Infantry Officer Basic Course, as well as Airborne and Ranger schools. He completed Ranger School April 9, 1958 and had just enough time to get to New York for the birth of his first son, Tom. Punctuating every new assignment, the family grew to include Susan at the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY; Janie during company command with the 24th Infantry Division in Augsburg, Germany; and Tim (retired lieutenant colonel) at the advanced course at Fort Knox, KY. </p>
<p>At heart Les was a soldier and a leader of troops. Although staff assignments and two tours in Vietnam followed, what he enjoyed most was training, team building, and developing capable leaders. Company command in Germany was so satisfying he often said he would have been content to remain a captain for 20 years if the Army had just given him a company to lead. He eventually commanded a battalion with the 22nd Infantry Regiment (1973-75) and with 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (1978-80), both at Fort Carson, CO. He capped off with command of the U.S. Army Infantry Training Center at Fort Benning (1982-84). </p>
<p>His final assignment as Deputy Commandant of Cadets (1984-87) brought him back to West Point, where he had loved being a TAC (1966-69). He and Ann had begun their life together at West Point, and it was a fitting place to bid farewell after 30 years of military service. </p>
<p>At Les’ retirement, Brigadier General Pete Boylan, the Commandant, said: “Les has had an effect on my life as few officers have because there was something about him I admired. He was a leader, but more than that, a leader of character who possessed an idea of what it was that we were to defend...always evidencing qualities of character which I thought all leaders in our Army should possess: integrity, loyalty and courage. Perhaps more important than all, Les possessed the strength to do what was right and thereby inspire others to do likewise.” </p>
<p>Les’s character was shaped by his Christian faith and was a potent force in his life. He trained men with firmness balanced by fairness, had uncompromising integrity, and bore his successes with tremendous humility. Few who knew him had any idea what he accomplished in the military or that among his decorations were two Legions of Merit, a Bronze Star for valor, five additional Bronze Stars and the Distinguished Flying Cross. </p>
<p>Instead, what meant most to him was demonstrated when he walked into a fly-fishing shop in Colorado years after he retired wearing an Army baseball cap. The man waiting on him asked if he was ever stationed at Fort Carson. When Les answered affirmatively, the man proceeded to tell him in glowing terms about the best leader he ever served under. “His name was Colonel Les Bennett. Did you know him?” Les grinned and replied, “Why, that’s me!” </p>
<p>For a short time after retirement, Les was an expert consultant to the Army with a firm in Carlisle, PA. He and Ann then lived in Tennessee before settling in Worthington, OH. His focus happily shifted to his children, grandchildren, and involvement in church and volunteer activities. </p>
<p>Les was survived by his wife, Ann, who passed away less than a month after he did. He is now survived by his children and four grandchildren. His grandson, Ethan Burby, graduated with West Point Class of 2022. Les wanted to be remembered as a man of faith in God, a loving husband and a father who proudly served his country. Even in his last years he would remind me he was a soldier. Still, in his heart, he was. He is part of the Long Gray Line now and has been greeted in heaven by his Savior. </p>
<p><em>— Susan Bennett Burby, Daughter</em></p>
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