N.J. Wing pays tribute to Medal of Honor recipient

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Author Craig Burgess and Col. Robert McCabe, New Jersey Wing commander, pay their respects at Medal of Honor recipient Edward Benfold’s gravesite after Wreaths Across America ceremonies at Beverly National Cemetery.

1st Lt. Mark Swanson

Public Affairs Officer

New Jersey Wing

NEW JERSEY -- Among the many thousands of wreaths laid by Civil Air Patrol volunteers on Dec. 13 as part of the nationwide Wreaths Across America observation was one for a veteran who very recently has become important to New Jersey Wing members -- Edward C. Benfold, buried in Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly

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For the first time this year, Benfold’s gravesite received special honors from CAP members, who recently learned the Medal of Honor recipient had been a New Jersey Wing cadet in 1948-49. Benfold was a member of the Camden Cadet Squadron for two years, according to a newspaper clipping that recently surfaced.

Benfold’s biographer, Craig Burgess, author of "The Green Wave and the Navy: The History of the USS Benfold," was a featured speaker at the Wreaths Across America ceremonies at the Beverly cemetery. Benfold and Burgess are both natives of Audubon, a small Camden County town that can claim no less than three Medal of Honor recipients – World War I Army Cpl. Nelson Brittin, Korean War Army Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Sampler and Benfold.

Burgess, joined by the New Jersey Wing’s commander, Col. Robert McCabe, paid tribute to Benfold at his gravesite.

Benfold was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Korean War as hospital corpsman third class in the Navy. He was killed in action at age 21 while serving in the 1st Marine Division.

He had entered the Navy in 1950, just months after leaving CAP and graduating from Audubon High School.

While wing members have not been able to unearth any records for Benfold, the newspaper clipping -- a photo identifying the future hero undergoing mobile radio unit training with three other Camden Cadet Squadron members -- unmistakably links him to membership in CAP in 1948-49, Burgess said.

McCabe said he was especially pleased the wing has been able to make the link with Benfold and his history.

“Not many wings can claim Medal of Honor recipients as CAP members,” the wing commander said. “We are honored by his sacrifice, and I’d like to think that the CAP cadet program helped to prepare him for his Navy service.”

Besides placing a wreath on the Benfold grave as part of the Wreaths Across America commemoration, members of the Jack Schweiker Composite Squadron paid their own tribute. The squadron, based in Cherry Hill, is believed to be the closest unit to the one Benfold belonged to, and members placed their own wreath on the grave with a salute.