Meat the Veteran: Navy Veteran Dick Bennett

In 1951, just after his 18th birthday, Dick Bennett made the decision to join the Navy. The Korean War was at its height, and with the draft underway, he wanted a path that would give him some control over his future. The Navy offered the chance to travel and the promise of life aboard a ship, which suited him more than other branches of service.

Boot camp in San Diego marked the start of his journey. His strong test scores earned him a spot in Class A School, where he trained as a teleman. This role blended two essential duties — operating post offices for sailors and working with the Navy's emerging teletype communication technology. After graduation, Bennett was assigned to Adak, Alaska, an isolated outpost in the Aleutian Islands created before Alaska had achieved statehood. There he worked long shifts in the message center. Life outside of duty hours was sparse, but the rugged tundra drew him outdoors. Hiking became his outlet on the treeless, windswept island.

After a year in Alaska, Bennett transferred to ship duty. Much of his time on board was spent as part of the deck crew, maintaining and preparing the vessel for deployment across the Pacific. Bennett later transferred to shore duty in the Philippines at Sangley Point, a small Navy communications post on Manila Bay. His job centered on keeping messages moving, while daily life stayed modest. Sailors lived in huts, walked to shared shower facilities, and made do with the basics.

During his four years of active service, Bennett steadily advanced in rank, ultimately reaching  Second-Class Petty Officer. Although he considered making the Navy his career, he chose to return home, where he attended college, got married, and purchased a modest home through the GI Loan program. His connection to the military remained strong, however, and he served in the Navy Reserves for three decades, ultimately achieving the rank of Warrant Officer.

Bennett looks back on his Navy years as a time of opportunity and connection rather than hardship. He left the Navy with friendships that lasted for years and memories that shaped his outlook. All the days spent hiking the tundra in Alaska, long hours in the message center, and the simple routines of life in the Philippines all left their mark. Still, he saw his time in uniform as both necessary and worthwhile.

His story mirrors that of many from his generation — young men who answered the call of duty while also discovering new places and growing through the challenges they faced. For Bennett, those four years at sea and abroad laid the groundwork for a meaningful life after the Navy, one built on service, friendship, and a lasting sense of purpose.