Chief Warrant Officer Four William Bench, Usn, Ret.

Chief Warrant Officer Four William L. Bench, age 68, of Kempner passed away on Sunday, May 29, 2016. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM, Sunday, June 26, 2016 at Admiral Nimitz Museum, 340 E. Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.

Chief Warrant Officer Four Bench, was born on August 1, 1947 in Fayetteville, Arkansas to the late Sr. Chief Willie G. and Vera Mascrio Bench. He enlisted in the Navy in July 1965. He reached the enlisted rank of Chief Electronic Warfare Technician (E7) in 1977 and received his commission for Chief Warrant Officer (CW02) in 1981. Chief Warrant Officer Bench’s first assignment after recruit training was U.S. Naval Ordnance Test Station, Mojave, California, for pre “A” school indoctrination prior to going to Radarman (RD) “A” School. His assignment following Radarman “A” school was USS Richmond K. Turner (CG-20) where he served as a surface and air watch supervisor. In 1968, He elected to leave the Naval Service to pursue a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Bachelor's in Business Marketing. While pursing his degrees he met Evelyn Helen Maxwell and they later married in San Diego, CA on October 8, 1970. In August of 1970, He returned to naval service and was assigned to the USS Sterett (CG-31) where he began his conversion from Radarman to Electronic Warfare Technician. His next tour of duty was at Service School Command Treasure Island in Eletronic Warfare Technician “A” and “C” Schools. His next tour of duty was again on the USS Sterett (CG-31) as the leading Electronic Warfare Technician. His next tour of duty was at Mobile Technical Unit Ten, Charleston, South Carolina, as the leading active Electronic Warfare Equipment Technician. In August of 1978, He was assigned to Fleet Operational Readiness Group Two, Little Creek, Virginia, as the leading Chief Electronic Warfare Technician and Team Leader for the Procurement of Specialized Equipment.  Upon Commissioning, Chief Warrant Officer Bench was assigned to the USS Bainbridge (CGN-25) as the Systems Test Officer for the Navy’s Ships Electronic Readiness Team (SERT) following surface Missile Systems School. In August 1984, He was assigned to U.S. Naval Radio Transmitting Facility, CAPAS, Tarlac, Philippines to assume the position as Assistant Officer in Charge. In January of 1987, he was fleeted up to the position of Officer in Charge. In August 1987, he was assigned to Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas as the Ground Electronics Officer. Chief Warrant Officer Bench’s personal awards include The Navy Achievement Medal, Three Battle Efficiency Awards, Good Conduct Medal with two Bronze Stars, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service with two Bronze Stars, Navy Overseas Ribbon, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. After his military retirement, he worked at Killeen Independent School District as a routing foreman which led to his consulting firm BBSILENTPARDNER, LLC.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Evelyn Helen Bench (Maxwell); two children, William Guy Bench, Tara Deanne Bench; two grandchildren, Shelby Rene Winch and Brianna Evelyn Pearl Bench.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box  758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.