DOB/DOD: January 14, 1930 (Bronx, NY) – February 28, 2015 (Norwalk, CT); 85 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Helen-Marie Beers McBennett on February 23, 1957, in Norwalk, CT.
CHILDREN: Three daughters, Kathy McBennett Sasloe (1957-present), Joan (1959-present), and Ann McBennett Raab (1962-present). Four sons, Patrick Jr. (1958-present), Peter (1963-present), Robert (1964-present), and Kevin (1960-2003).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 20 Grandview Avenue and 10 Delaware Avenue, in Norwalk
ENLISTMENT: April 1952. Enlisted again in November 1953.
SERVICE NUMBER: unknown.
Unit: 24th Infantry Division (in Korea).
FAMILY: Born to Patrick (1904-1973) and Rose Haughey McBennett (1899-1969). Patrick was born in Monaghan, Ireland, and his mother, Rose, was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Three sisters, Mary McBennett Furmanek (1931-2015), Eileen McBennett Callahan (1933-2016), and Ann McBennett Karas (1936-). Two brothers, Patrick (1930-2017) and John (1938-2011).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal.
CIRCUMSTANCES: From his grandson’s post on Twitter (quote and picture used with permission), he “took grenade shrapnel attempting to pull a soldier from the kill zone, but the soldier would succumb to his wounds.“
Patrick McBennett received a Presidential Citation from President Barack Obama.
From The Norwalk Hour March 2, 2015
Patrick Gerard McBennett, age 85, of Norwalk, died at Norwalk Hospital on Saturday, February 28, 2015. He has been devoted to his wife, Helen Marie Beers McBennett, for over 57 years. Born January 14, 1930, in the Bronx, NY, he was the eldest child of the late Patrick and Rose McBennett. Patrick enlisted with the U.S. Army in April 1952 and was deployed to Korea. Among other citations, Patrick was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his honorable service. He retired as a letter carrier from the U.S. Postal Service with over 30 years of dedicated service. Patrick is survived by his wife Helen Marie; daughter Kathy Sasloe and husband Steve; grandsons Kyle, Ryan, and Taylor Sasloe; son Patrick and wife Bonnie McBennett; daughter Joan Marie McBennett; daughter Ann Raab and husband Alex; granddaughter Sierra; son Peter McBennett and wife Sasha; grandchildren Claire and Danny; son Bob McBennett and wife Joan; grandchildren James and Keira and sisters Ann and Eileen. Patrick was predeceased by his son Kevin, grandson Alex, brother John and sister Mary. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 5, at 10am at St. Mary Church, 669 West Ave., Norwalk. Burial with full military honors will follow at St. John Cemetery, 223 Richards Ave., Norwalk. Patrick’s family will receive friends on Wednesday from 4 to 8pm at the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Ave., Norwalk. Memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities, 238 Jewett Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06606, http://www.ccfairfield.org. For directions or to sign the online guestbook, please go to http://www.magnerfuneralhome.com
Buried in St. John’s Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut; Section 11, Lot 71. Photos by webmaster.
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