This is one of the military memorials in Cocoa Riverfront Park. Emory Lawrence Bennett stands near fellow Medal of Honor honoree Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris. I have an interest in military history and it was interesting to learn more about both men. Bennett was born on December 20, 1929 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. He moved to Cocoa in 1937 where his family ran the Bennett Fish Market. His older brothers fought in WWII and he enlisted in the army on July 25, 1950. In Fenruary 1951 Bennett was sent to Korea where he served with first class with Company B of the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. In the early morning hours of June 24, 1951, his company took a hill near Sobangsan from the Chinese. The next day 1.500 troops swarmed up the ridgeline in a ferocious human wave, known as a banzai charge, to take back the hill. Bennett's company only had 200 soldiers. He left his foxhole and stood exposed to hostile fire as he attempted to repel the enemy. Even though he was injured he maintained the position long enough to momentarily halt the enemy advance and allow Company B to regroup. Bennett voluntarily stayed behind to provide covering fire while the rest of his unit withdrew. During his companies retreat he was mortally wounded. When he was last seen he had 50 of the enemy piled around him. His body arrived home to Florida on November 23, 1951 and he is interred at Pinecrest Cemetery in Cocoa, Florida. For his heroic actions during the battle, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on February 1, 1952. Nine other fallen soldiers were also awarded the nation's highest honor for valor that day. A portion of his citation reads "Although wounded, Pfc. Bennett gallantly maintained his one-man defense and the attack was momentarily halted. During this lull in battle, the company regrouped for counterattack, but the numerically superior foe soon infiltrated into the position. Upon orders to move back, Pfc. Bennett voluntarily remained to provide covering fire for the withdrawing elements, and, defying the enemy, continued to sweep the charging foe with devastating fire until mortally wounded. His willing self-sacrifice and intrepid actions saved the position from being overrun and enabled the company to effect an orderly withdrawal. Pfc Bennett's unflinching courage and consummate devotion to duty reflect lasting glory on himself and the military service." In addition to this monument in Cocoa Riverside Park, in 1993, a veterans' nursing home in Daytona Beach, Florida, was built and named in his honor and the Bennett Causeway in Brevard County was also named for him. On Merritt Island, a wing at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center is dedicated in his honor. Cocoa Florida will never forget the sacrifice made by Emory Lawrence Bennett. read more