BENNETT W. HOOKS, LCDR, USN
Bennett Hooks '46
Lucky Bag
From the 1946 Lucky Bag:
Bennett Watson Hooks
Kinston, North Carolina
From that fabulous land of golden tobacco, Southern hospitality, and Kay Kyser came Ben the pride of Kinston, North Carolina. His quiet determination and unaffected personality marked him from the beginning as a man to watch. Although a man of strong character, he had two weaknesses—tennis and girls. He did a splendid job as tennis manager, and, to our knowledge, there have been no complaints from the femmes. His accomplishments—academic, social, and athletic—were admired and envied, but never wondered at. We expected them of Ben!
The Class of 1946 was graduated in June 1945 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Bennett Watson Hooks
Kinston, North Carolina
From that fabulous land of golden tobacco, Southern hospitality, and Kay Kyser came Ben the pride of Kinston, North Carolina. His quiet determination and unaffected personality marked him from the beginning as a man to watch. Although a man of strong character, he had two weaknesses—tennis and girls. He did a splendid job as tennis manager, and, to our knowledge, there have been no complaints from the femmes. His accomplishments—academic, social, and athletic—were admired and envied, but never wondered at. We expected them of Ben!
The Class of 1946 was graduated in June 1945 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Obituary
From A-4 Skyhawk Association:
Bennett Hooks attended the United States Naval Academy and was graduated with the 1946 Naval Academy class.
Following graduation he served aboard the USS Philippine Sea (CVA-47) as a division officer in the gunnery department for three years. During this period he acted for a short time as an aide to Admiral Richard E. Byrd on an expedition to the Antarctic.
He was then assigned duty with Anti-Submarine Squadron 22 and later served on the staff of Commander Carrier Division Eighteen. During this assignment he served as an Aide to Admiral A. B. Vosseler and Admiral F. T. Ward.
Lt. Hooks next attended the United States Navy Postgraduate School at Monterey, California where he successfully completed the course of instruction in nuclear engineering in June 1955.
Lt. Hooks was assigned duties as a VX-5 Project Officer at Moffett Field and at China Lake.
According to the base newspaper Lieutenant Bennett W. Hooks died around noon Wednesday, 05 October 1956 when his A4D Skyhawk was destroyed in a crash five miles south of Inyokern. CA. According to Henry White (VX-5 Feb.1956 - Oct. 1957) it was determined that Lt. Hooks was trying to bring his A4D in on the deserted runway at Inyokern during an in-flight fire. It was also said that the papers for his advancement to Lt. Cdr. were on his desk unsigned. The whole Squadron attended the funeral and he was buried at the Military Cemetery in San Diego with full military honors.
Lt. Hooks was 33 years old and was survived by his wife, a son, a daughter and his mother.
Shipmate
From the November 1956 issue:
BEN HOOKS was serving in Air Development Squadron Five at NOTS, China Lake, Calif., when he was killed in the crash of an A4D-1 Skyhawk on 10 October 1956. Ben's untimely death came one day after he had been promoted to Lieutenant Commander, he being one of our classmates selected from below the zone in the winter of 1955. Ben was a recent graduate of the Nuclear Effects PG course at Monterey and had already established for himself an enviable record and fine reputation in the Navy. Jack Sickel, who was serving with Ben in VX-5, wrote: "His loss ends a most promising career and to his friends Ben left a timeless treasure—the rich privilege of having known him." Ben is survived by his widow, Marian, and two children, Ben, Jr., age 8, and Betsy, age 4 mos., who will remain with Marian's parents at 4155 Middlesex Dr., San Diego, until Marian establishes a permanent residence, probably in Coronado.
Ben was buried in Rosecrans National Cemetery. The class was represented at the funeral services by Jack Bailey, Marv Swanberg, Clif Clifton, Jack Sickel and Daisy Wilhoit. Flowers were sent in the name of the class and I received a note from Marian which said: "Dear Class of 1946, I was so touched when I saw your flowers. Ben would have been happy to know you remembered him. He was very proud he was a '46 graduate. Thank you for your kindness. It meant much to me."
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Bennett graduated from Grainger High School in 1941. In the 1962 Grainger High School yearbook, Bennett appeared on a page entitled “Then and Now.” He had been voted most popular, most intellectual, and most versatile.
He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for one year. His appointment to the Naval Academy was by Rep. Graham A. Barden.
Bennett married Marian Steinwachs on December 14, 1946, at Long Beach, California. He sailed on January 2 with Admiral Byrd’s expedition to the North Pole.
Bennett’s father was a supervisor of the Kinston Tobacco Market. His mother was Mamie, a dental assistant. They divorced in 1940. When his father died in October 1953, Bennett was stationed in Monterey.
Photographs
From the yearbook of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
From The News and Observer on July 23, 1942
Related Articles
William Armstrong, Jr. '46 and William Austin '46 were also members of 17th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
