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Adapted from "Captain Victor Gordon Benson, Medical Corps, United States Navy, Deceased"  [biography, dated 21 May 1962] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.
 

Topic
  • Medicine
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • China Service 1937-1939, 1945-1957
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Victor Gordon Benson

7 June 1920-4 March 1988

Victor Gordon Benson was born in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, on June 7, 1920, son of Earl and Christina Hooverson Benson. He attended Marquette University from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine.

First commissioned Ensign (HVP) in the US Naval Reserve in April 1942, he had instruction as a Medical Student at Marquette under the program of the Medical Corps of the Navy, transferring to the V-12 Program in September 1943. Upon graduation in July 1944 he was commissioned Lieutenant (junior grade) in the Medical Corps of the Naval Reserve, and on January 1, 1946, was transferred in that rank to the Medical Corps of the US Navy. He subsequently advanced to the rank of Captain, MC, USN, to date from July 1, 1960.

Completing his internship in June 1945, he reported to the US Naval Hospital, Bainbridge, Maryland, where he served as a Medical Officer, and during the next year served briefly at the Navy Ammunition Depot, Oahu, TH, on board USS Towner (AKA-77), and at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. From March 1947 until November 1948 he had duty in connection with Organized Reserve personnel at the Naval Air Station, Columbus, Ohio, then was Resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology where under instruction at Ohio State University until June 1950.

He was next assigned to the Naval Hospital, Charleston, South Carolina, where he served until November 1952 as Medical Officer, Dependent Service; then was transferred to the Naval Station, Argentia, Newfoundland, as Senior Medical Officer. He was detached in June 1954 and a month later reported to the Naval School of Aviation Medicine, Pensacola, Florida, where he was under instruction for five months. Designated Flight Surgeon, he reported in December of that year as Flight Surgeon for Air Antisubmarine Squadron 38. He resigned his commission in the Navy in July 1956, was later commissioned in the Naval Reserve, and still later transferred again to the US Navy.

Volunteering for active duty, he reported on July 1, 1957, to USS Kearsarge, in which he served as Flight Surgeon until July 1959. He was a student at the University of California, at Berkeley, during the next year, completing the course in Preventive Medicine (Aviation Medicine), and was awarded a masters degree in June 1960. In July of that year he reported to the Naval Air Development Center, Johnsville, Pennsylvania, for further instruction.

Captain Benson has the American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; China Service Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.

He died March 4, 1988. 

END 

Published: Tue Mar 31 11:43:58 EDT 2020