Original U.S. WWII 4th Ranger Battalion Government Reissue KIA Purple Heart, Silver Star, and Bronze Star Medals to Richard J. Bennett, KIA in Sicily 1943

Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is a lovely set of medals, a KIA Purple Heart Medal, Silver Star Medal, and Bronze Star Medal identified to Private First Class Richard J. Bennett, 4th Ranger Battalion, who was killed in action on July 10th, 1943. He would be awarded the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and Purple Heart Medal. His SS Citation reads:

On the 10th of July, 1943, in the streets of Sicily, when the platoon was advancing during the street fighting, it came under machine gun fire at a range of about 15 yards. PFC Bennett, Platoon Runner, immediately charged forward into position, firing his Thompson submachine gun. He destroyed the enemy gun position and crew. His daring and heroic actions allowed the platoon to advance. As a result of this action, PFC Bennett was killed. His devotion to duty is in keeping with the highest tradition of the service.

The medals are government reissues, and were likely issued to Bennett’s family in the 1980s or 1990s. They are each engraved RICHARD J. BENNETT on the reverse. The medals come with a packet of printed research on Bennett, which includes an online-found photograph of him.

Bennett was born on October 31st, 1925 in Somerset, New Jersey. He enlisted in the Army on October 21st, 1942, at the age of 16. We believe he lied about his age upon enlistment. He was killed in action on July 10th, 1943, supposedly at the age of 19. The link to his findagrave can be found here: PFC Richard Joseph Bennett.

Comes ready for further research and display!