A decorated Marine and proud native of Ohio, Benson felt the call of duty in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001. Determined to serve his country, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where his courage and commitment quickly set him apart.

He went on to graduate as an honor graduate from the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, CA where he was assigned to Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He deployed twice to Iraq, first during Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Forward Observer in 2003, then again in 2004 as a Section Leader of a Combined Anti-Armor team along the Syrian border where he led Marines in combat operations to provide security, strengthen Iraqi forces and protect local communities.

For his courage and sacrifice, Benson was awarded The Purple Heart and honored with The Medal of Valor in recognition of his extraordinary bravery.

We are deeply honored to hear his story and are grateful for his continued commitment to his fellow veterans. Please join us as we honor the lives lost on 9/11 and pay tribute to the heroes who answered the call that day and those who continue to serve and protect our Nation.