Private First Class Bennett was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. On 21 February 1951, he was Killed in Action when his vehicle ran over an enemy land mine in South Korea.

Bennett was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.