Naval History and Heritage Command

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Earl Robert Bennett was born in Los Angeles, California, on October 19, 1908, son of Robert N. and Mary Catherine (Dinn) Bennett. In 1931 he was graduated from the University of Arizona with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and for five years thereafter was employed by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and served as Civil Engineer on construction of the Colorado River Aqueduct. In 1937-1938 he was Civil Engineer for a general contractor in Los Angeles and Job Engineer on construction of the School of Architecture at the University of Southern California, and in 1939-1940 was Civil Engineer and Senior Inspector for the Navy Department at the Mare Island (California) Navy Yard.

Having been commissioned Lieutenant (junior grade) in the Civil Engineer Corps of the US Naval Reserve, effective June 21, 1937, he reported for active duty on June 20, 1940. He was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant in October 1941, to Lieutenant Commander in March 1943, and to Commander in March 1944. After his transfer to the US Navy from the Naval Reserve, he advanced to the rank of Captain, to date from July 1, 1954.

From June 1940 until March 1944 he was assigned to the US Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, where as Assistant Public Works Officer in Charge of Construction, he assisted in the Base’s expansion program prior to and after the outbreak of World War II. During the latter war period and until November 1946 he served as Operations Officer. Executive Officer, and officer in charge of Operations contracts at the Advance Base Depot, Davisville, Rhode Island. For a year he was Public Works Officer of the US Naval Operating Base, Saipan, Marianas, after which, from January 1948 to January 1949 he had similar duty at Headquarters, Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, Japan.

Reporting in January 1949 to the Marine Barracks, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, he remained there as Officer in Charge of Construction and Public Works Officer until April 1951. In May he became Public Works Officer of the Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia, and in September 1953 was detached with orders to Guam, Marianas, as Commanding Officer of the Public Works Center there. During the period October 1955 until June 1956 he was a student at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, DC.

Under orders of February 21, 1956, he currently serves in the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Department, Washington, DC, as Executive Assistant for Maintenance and Material.

Captain Bennett has the American Defense Service Medal; the American Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; and the National Defense Service Medal.

He was awarded the Freeman Medal in 1931 at the University of Arizona, where he was a member of Tau Beta Pi, Theta Tau, and Phi Delta Theta, and were he was a member of the football team for four years. He is a Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers. His hobbies are football, golf and photography.

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