Local Veteran Named to National Position in American Legion

A member of American Legion Post 642 in Sedalia, was appointed national historian of the 2.2. million member veterans organization during its national convention in Cincinnati.

Paul D. Bennett served in the U.S. Army from June 1960 through December 1968; and then again from June 1970 through September 1985. During his military service, he was assigned to the Army Security Agency and received advanced individual training specializing in Signal Security and OPSEC duties. In 1975, he was selected to become an Army Career Counselor, remaining in the Army Security Agency.

His duty assignments included two tours in Korea, two tours in Germany, a visit to Vietnam in 1965 with the 1st Cavalry Division-Airmobile, and an extended tour in Okinawa. Stateside, his assignments included Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Devens, Mass.; Fort Riley, Kan.; and Fort Hood, Texas. Bennett’s final assignment was to Fort Gillem, Ga. During his career, he received numerous awards, including two Meritorious Service Medals.

He is a member of George A. Whiteman Memorial Post 642 in Sedalia. Bennett has twice served as post commander, twice as a district commander, and was western vice commander for the Dept. of Missouri. He was appointed and then elected as the department historian in 2001, and will remain in that position through 2017.

Additionally, he has been the chairman of the Department Children & Youth Commission since 2010, and serves on the Department of Missouri Membership Commission. In 2012, he was selected as his department's Legionnaire of the Year. He has been a member of the National Security Council. He is active in the JROTC, Boys and Girls State, High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, and Operation Military Kids.

He is married to the former Judith Strunk, who is a Vietnam era veteran and a member of The American Legion, and a VIM of her local Auxiliary Unit. They have two daughters and one son, and eight grandchildren. He is now one of 12 national officers in The American Legion.