Chester R. Bender
Chester R. Bender | |
---|---|
Born | Burnsville, West Virginia, U.S. | 14 March 1914
Died | 20 July 1996 Moraga, California, U.S. | (aged 82)
Buried | |
Service/ | United States Coast Guard |
Rank | Admiral |
Commands held | Commandant |
Battles/wars | World War II Asiatic-Pacific Campaign |
Awards | Distinguished Service Medal |
Chester R. Bender (March 14, 1914 – July 20, 1996) served as the fourteenth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1970 to 1974. He also served as Superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy from 1965 to 1967.
Early life and education
Bender was born in Burnsville, West Virginia, on March 14, 1914, and later moved with his parents John I. Bender and Inez Harbert Bender, to Plant City, Florida in 1925. In 1932, he was appointed as a cadet at the United States Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut. During his time at the academy, he served two years on the boxing squad and as humor editor of Tide Rips, the academy yearbook. He served as gun captain during his senior year. He graduated from the academy on June 8, 1936 and received a bachelor of science degree and a commission as a Coast Guard ensign. He was the first Floridian to graduate from the academy.[1]
Career
Early assignments
Upon graduation from the academy, Bender's initial assignment was as a line officer aboard Coast Guard cutters
World War II
During
Mid-career assignments
In December 1945, he was assigned to U.S. Coast Guard headquarters, as the executive officer of the Air-Sea Rescue Agency. From 1946 to 1950, he served as personal aide and pilot to U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Joseph F. Farley. In 1950, Bender was transferred to Coast Guard Air Station St. Petersburg, Florida, where he served as executive officer. In 1953 he assumed command of the Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, Michigan. In 1955, he returned to Coast Guard headquarters, assuming command of the War Plans Division. Three years later in 1958, he was promoted to captain and given command of the Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii.[1]
In 1959, after two decades of aviation duty, he assumed command of
Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard
On April 16, 1970, Bender was nominated by U.S. President
Later life and death
Following his retirement from the U.S. Coast Guard in 1974, Bender moved to Moraga, California. He died there on July 20, 1996 after a long illness and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[2]
Awards
In addition to the Bronze Star Medal, Bender's World War II campaign medals include the America Area, American Defense, Asiatic-Pacific with two bronze stars, Philippine Liberation with two bronze stars, Philippine Presidential Unit citation, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Service Medal (two awards).[1]
Dates of rank
Ensign | Lieutenant, Junior Grade
|
Lieutenant | Lieutenant Commander
|
Commander | Captain
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
O-1 | O-2 | O-3 | O-4 | O-5 | O-6 |
June 8, 1936 | ~1938 | ~1940 | ~1943 | ~1944 | ~1955 |
Commodore | Rear Admiral
|
Vice Admiral
|
Admiral |
---|---|---|---|
O-7 | O-8 | O-9 | O-10 |
Never held | July 1, 1964 | June 1967 | June 1, 1970 |
Citations
References
- "Admiral Chester R. Bender". Notable People. U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
External links
- Chester R. Bender, ArlingtonCemetery.net, 24 September 2023, an unofficial website[unreliable source?]