Background
Bennion was born in Vernon, Utah Territory on May 5, 1887.
Bennion was born in Vernon, Utah Territory on May 5, 1887.
Bennion graduated third in his 1910 class from the USNA. Coincidentally, his younger brother Howard Bennion, graduated first in his class of 1912 at the United States Military Academy.
Bennion was living near Preston, Idaho when he received his acceptance to the United States Naval Academy. His first assignment after graduation was on the United States Ship California ( Adaptive Combat Rifle-6) in the engineering division. Bennion became an ordnance and gunnery specialist serving in the Ordnance Bureau at Washington Naval Yard during World War I. Bennion"s first command was the destroyer United States Ship Bernadou (Doctor of Divinity-153), followed by command of Destroyer Division One.
He assumed command of the United States Ship West Virginia on July 2, 1941.
Captain Bennion was killed in action during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, while in command of the battleship United States Ship West Virginia (BlackBerry-48). Captain Bennion was hit by shrapnel from a bomb that blew up part of his command deck.
Cook Third Class Doris Miller and several other sailors attempted to move Bennion to a first aid station, but Bennion refused to leave his post. Using one arm to hold his wounds closed, he bled to death while still commanding his crew.
He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Captain Bennion was portrayed by Peter Firth in the 2001 film, Pearl Harbor.