Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Benoski, Jr.: Veteran of the Month | June 2026

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, on October 23, 1933, Joseph Benoski was the first in his family to attend college. His parents, who never finished high school, worked hard to provide opportunities for their sons. Thanks to their sacrifices, he attended Auburn University, where he joined ROTC and discovered his calling to serve in the military. In 1955, he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG), an honor recognizing exceptional leadership and academic achievement.

 

Over the next fifteen years, he built a distinguished Army career that eventually led him to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Along the way, he and his wife, Jackie, built a family. Their son, Joseph III—known as Mark—and daughter Jacque were both born while the family was stationed in Germany. Like many military families, they moved often, living in Germany, Fort Leavenworth, Maryland, and Augusta, Georgia. “We’d only been in Augusta for about a month when he left for Vietnam,” Mark recalls.

 

On June 16, 1969, Lieutenant Colonel Benoski deployed to South Vietnam. Mark was five years old. His younger sister was only three. “My mom had just turned 28 when Dad went to Vietnam,” Mark says.

 

Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 39th Artillery, Lieutenant Colonel Benoski served in one of the most dangerous regions of South Vietnam. He was known as a dynamic leader who earned the admiration and loyalty of the soldiers he commanded. His bravery in combat earned him the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars—including one with the “V” device for valor—and the Purple Heart.

 

But to Mark, his father wasn’t defined by medals. “He was a great cook,” Mark remembers. “I remember it always being so fun. He always came home and brought us a little Hershey candy bar. He’d take it out of his briefcase and give it to us. He was really generous and fun.”

 

In March 1970, Jackie traveled to Hawaii to spend a week with her husband during his rest and recuperation (R&R) leave. It would be the last time they would see each other.

 

After returning to Vietnam on March 25, Lieutenant Colonel Benoski wrote to his wife the following day, telling her how much he had enjoyed their time together. He promised he would write again tomorrow.

 

Tomorrow never came.

 

On March 27, 1970, while flying as an artillery observer during a battle damage assessment mission over Quang Tri Province, the OH-58A Kiowa helicopter carrying Lieutenant Colonel Benoski and pilot Warrant Officer Ralph Quick, Jr., came under enemy fire. The aircraft was struck by heavy machine-gun fire and crashed. Both men were killed in action.

 

“He wrote my mom on March 26, saying how much he enjoyed seeing her and that he would write again tomorrow,” Mark says. “But the next day was when he was shot down. So he never got to write that letter.”

 

His tour had lasted just over nine months. Had he returned home, the family would have been preparing to move back to Germany for another three-year assignment.

 

The loss changed everything.

 

By the end of 1970, Jackie moved with her two children to St. Louis to be close to her older sister and her husband, Mark’s aunt and uncle. His mother wanted the children to have a father figure and a support system nearby.

 

Historical records and firsthand accounts paint a picture of a commander whose leadership left a lasting impression on those who served with him. SFC Kenneth L. Sheffield, U.S. Army (Ret.), who served with LTC Benoski in Vietnam, remembered him as a “dynamic leader” and “a friend to all of the men in the unit.”

The trust and admiration he inspired were so strong that when LTC Benoski assumed command of the Corps Artillery Battalion, Sheffield voluntarily requested a transfer so he could continue serving under him—an uncommon testament to the influence and character of a commander.

 

Following LTC Benoski’s death on March 27, 1970, Sheffield recalled that it was “a sad day for the entire unit.” Those who served with him remembered not only his leadership and courage, but also his genuine care for the soldiers entrusted to him. Their memories speak to a man who led from the front and earned the respect, loyalty, and friendship of those he commanded.

 

More than fifty years later, Mark and his family are still in the St. Louis area. He now has two children and one grandchild. He and his family have visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. There, they went to Panel 12W, Line 48, to etch his father’s name.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Benoski, Jr.’s legacy is evident in his military achievements, his bravery, and the respect he earned from the soldiers he commanded. Yet, perhaps his most lasting legacy is the family he created and the memories they share of a father who brought joy to life and loved his family.

 

This month, we honor Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Benoski, Jr.—a devoted husband, loving father, respected commander, and American hero whose service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Veterans Care Coordination is proud to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Benoski, Jr., for his service to our country. We are privileged to have the opportunity to share the stories of our nation’s heroes.  Thank you for your service and sacrifice, Joseph.