Benn Harry Witterman – Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force

Courtesy of a proud son, Howard Witterman

Benn H. Witterman, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force (retired) died Friday, July 7, 2000 in Batesville, Arkansas.

Born in 1928, in Vancouver, British Columbia, he was the son of Asser and Olga Witterman.

Colonel Witterman's military career spanned more than 27 years and included over eight years of enlisted service. A highly decorated combat pilot, he flew almost 600 sorties in Vietnam and was forced down twice over enemy territory.

He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in “Operation Cricket” (a mission later named “Operation Raven”).

Other honors included the Air Medal with 22 (twenty-two) oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze stars, Air Force Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two bronze stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Medal for Humane Action, Presidential Unit Citation, and the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star.

Since his Air Force retirement in 1973, he lived in Independence County and worked as a loss-control specialist for insurance companies in Little Rock until 1992.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Irma. Surviving him are his wife, Alice; one brother, Rubin; four children and four grandchildren.

Services and burial were conducted at Arlington National Cemetery on July 25, 2000 and included full military honors.


WITTERMAN, BENN HARRY
LT COL   US AIR FORCE
WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM
DATE OF BIRTH: 07/20/1928
DATE OF DEATH: 07/07/2000
BURIED AT: SECTION 66  SITE 5998
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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