American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Beaufort’s Stephen Bennett, 85, who joined the Maine Air National Guard in 1958 while in high school. In 1960, he attended Air Force Basic Training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas. He then was assigned to Charleston AFB, working in aircraft instrumentation for C-121 Constellations and C124 Globemasters. In 1963 he transferred to Kadena AFB on Okinawa.
Returning Stateside, he was assigned to Myrtle Beach AFB servicing F100 Super Sabres for three years and then at Otis AFB on Cape Cod, preparing special aircraft for deployment to Vietnam. He followed them west to Korat Royal Thai AFB before returning to Charleston AFB, assigned to a fighter squadron.
A lateral transfer next had him servicing C141 Starlifters, C130 Hercules and C-5 Galaxies before returning to Thailand at Udorn Thai AFB. He then separated from active duty to use the GI Bill to complete a theology degree at Baptist College of Charleston. For the next 10 years, he pastored in Maine while remaining in the Maine Air National Guard. In 1984 he returned to active duty at Charleston AFB in the C-141 instrument shop.
Next assigned at Pope AFB he taught instrument and autopilot maintenance for six years during which he was promoted to Master Sergeant. His final active duty assignment was at Rhein Main, Germany, from which he retired in 1992. He returned to pastoring for 22 years in Maine and North Carolina before retiring again at age 70. He and his wife, Jean, moved to Beaufort in 2023.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
