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<em>Jay Leland Benedict</em>, affectionately known as “Tow” by his classmates, came from Nebraska and was one of the most outstanding men of the Class of 1904. In substantiation of this statement I shall state various incidents in his career as an officer of the Army and as a citizen of the United States.</div>
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As a cadet at West Point, Benedict was a First Sergeant and a Captain commanding a company. He graduated No. 26 in a class of 124. In later years he graduated No. 8 in a class of 258 at the Command and General Staff School. He served as an instructor at West Point in the Department of Natural and Experimental Philosophy from 1908 to 1912 and again in 1916-1917. He had a keen mind and an almost unlimited capacity for work.</div>
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Benedict, after a short tour at Fort Dix, spent World War I as a member of the War Department General Staff under General Henry Jervey. He was requested and desired very much to join our Army in France but his services were considered so valuable that the Chief of Staff would not release him. For this service he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with the following citation:</div>
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“For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in the performance of duties of great responsibility as a Colonel, Infantry, United States Army, as Chief of Procurement and Discharge Section, Personnel Branch, General Staff during the World War.”</div>
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After Benedict graduated from the War College in 1926 he was again assigned to the War Department General Staff where he served until 1930 as Chief of its Legislative Branch. He was Inspector General of the Hawaiian Department, 1930-1934. He was with the 16th and 12th Infantry, and was Chief of Staff of the 8th Corps Area. He was Superintendent of the United States Military Academy 1938-1940.</div>
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On his appointment to this much sought after command he received the following letter from General Jervey, the man under whom he served during World War I.</div>
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“It gave me great pleasure to be informed of your appointment as Superintendent of the Academy and I wish to offer you my hearty congratulations and best wishes for a long and successful tour of duty.</div>
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I remember many of the intricate and heart-breaking problems that used to fall to your lot in the Operations Division during and after the World War, and you bear a reputation for steadfast devotion to your job and unfailing determination to accomplish results against all obstacles. This characteristic will carry you far and I am sure will make your present work agreeable and successful.”</div>
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One of the first things that Benedict did as Superintendent was to express in words the Mission of the Military Academy. This was done in cooperation with the Academic Board and the Mission stands today, verbatim, as it was written then (1938). Benedict was a master of English expression.</div>
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General Malin Craig, nearing the end of his assignment as Chief of Staff of the Army, sent Benedict the following letter:</div>
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“I shall retire in a few days as Chief of Staff. Before doing so, I desire to make a matter of official record my hearty congratulations to you for the superior manner in which you have discharged your duties as Superintendent of the United States Military Academy since reporting to West Point on February 5, 1938.</div>
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You have conducted the affairs of the Military Academy with wisdom, tact and efficiency. The esprit and accomplishments of the Corps of Cadets have never been greater, despite the large increase in enrollment and consequent crowding in barracks. Relations with other institutions and the public at large have been very cordial. Nor has attention to these details detracted in any way from the excellence of the Post administration, including the large construction program now in progress. I feel that your accomplishments as Superintendent are highly commendable and am placing a copy of this letter on file with the Adjutant General in order that my views may be of permanent record.”</div>
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To give an idea of the impression made on the Corps by Benedict the following extract from a letter received by the family from General Stroh after Benedict’s death is quoted.</div>
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“Looking through Harry’s (General Stroh’s son) letters to us, I found one written on November 16, 1940. I enclose one of its paragraphs just as it appears. I am sure it reflects not only his own feelings toward the General but those of the entire Corps. There could be no finer tribute toward a beloved commander.”</div>
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The paragraph from Cadet Stroh’s letter follows.</div>
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“We had our farewell review for the Supe on Thursday and I’ll tell you that I’ve never felt anything so stirring. It had rained every day since Monday so we didn’t have the review on the plain but in Central Area. It was raining very hard and all of us were sore because we had to get our rifles wet—however after the review I’ll bet every cadet would be willing to repeat the review a thousand times for the Supe. There was the old man—raining hard and very cold—standing receiving the review bareheaded. As every company passed by, the old man tried to look every man in the eye—I even saw tears in his eyes. Friday night the whole Corps went to the Supe's house after supper. We all sang the “Alma Mater” which must have touched the old man because he came out and was speechless. Then we sang “The Corps” which was too much for him. We really hate to see him go because he has really treated us swell—better than we ever expect in the future.”</div>
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During World War II Benedict commanded the 4th Corps and the 9th Corps Area but most of his service during this period was as President of the War Department Dependency Board. For an impression of this assignment, the following extract is quoted from a letter written by Dr. Albert C. Jacobs, now President of Trinity College but during World War II the head of the Navy Dependency Board.</div>
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“You must let me tell you as best I<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>can what a splendid contribution you have made during the past years to our Country. You have been the one person in the services who has understood and fully appreciated the necessity of maintaining morale on the home front. You have planned and put into execution most of the significant developments pertaining to benefits and casualties. You were throughout the war the inspiration I needed to carry on when the skies were dark and the going tough. You were at all times of invaluable help with your wise counsel.</div>
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Our association in serving the interests of the Armed Forces will always remain, General, as the happiest memory of my Washington days. It was always a privilege and a pleasure to work with you.”</div>
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A letter from Colonel Randolph Shaw is quoted in part.</div>
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“Largely because of you the four years that are now ending have been the happiest work of my life. I shall be everlastingly grateful to you and shall never forget your many evidences of kindness, tolerance and understanding. But above all that has been the privilege of working with a truly great man...You know that as a White House and Washington newspaper correspondent I had, for some years, the opportunity to observe and appraise the leading figures in the American scene. Later, in the Government legal field</div>
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I<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>have worked with Attorneys and Solicitors General and have had close personal contacts with eminent Jurists.</div>
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“With such basis of comparison it was early in association with you that the keenness of your intellect, the soundness of your judgment and the power of analysis you brought to difficult problems impressed me as being on a parity with such qualities observed in the very top flight men of our country. Never has that original judgment been altered but closer and continued association has confirmed and deepened it. I am certain that in any endeavor you would have achieved eminence, and I know that if you had followed the legal profession you would have become one of the Nation’s great Jurists. As your ability has commanded my respect, so have your personal qualities engendered my regard to the extent that separation from you means a great personal loss to me. Please know in what esteem I hold you and how deep and sincere is that feeling.”</div>
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After Benedict retired in 1946, he rendered valuable service to the West Point Alumni Foundation in procuring and assembling vital information from the Office of the Adjutant General of the Army for publication in “The Register of Graduates and Former Cadets.” The efficiency with which he handled this work was due largely to his knowledge of the records of the Department of the Army and the infinite trust people had in him.</div>
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Upon Benedict’s death from emphysema in 1953, among the many letters of condolence received, one from Daniel J. Reidy, General Counsel for the Guardian Life Insurance Company expresses the the general feeling. An extract is quoted.</div>
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“General Benedict, successful Army officer, would have been equally successful in the business world or in the practice of law. His was a keen, analytical mind that quickly cut through the maze of detail to grasp the essential facts. Seeking then the opinions of his associates, applying his own clear analysis and sound logic, he quickly arrived at the proper conclusions.</div>
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He was a man who never commanded but always earned the respect, loyalty, admiration and affection of his subordinates.”</div>
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From the information in this brief summary of a long career it is clear that Benedict was a man of great intergrity and of great loyalty to both his juniors and his seniors. He had this keen analytical mind which coupled with his great capacity for work always produced very efficient results.</div>
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He was kindly and thoughtful and often went out of his way to do a good turn for a friend or associate. He made a deep and lasting impression on many prominent men in various walks of life. West Point may well be proud of him as one of its leaders.</div>
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He was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal in 1920 and the Legion of Merit in 1942.</div>
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Surviving are his widow; Loretta M. Benedict, his daughter Margaret Ann, the wife of Major Wilbur H. Vinson, Jr. and her three children.</div>
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<em>—Fenton ’04</em></div>