U. S. Army Chief Warrant officer Patrick Benson, a career helicopter pilot, was honored with the American Legion Valor Award, presented annually to only three military personnel. For the first time in nearly two decades of military service, a helicopter piloted by Benson was hit by enemy fire in Afghanistan last fall. The Bellevue/ Ross native managed to get himself and his seriously wounded co-pilot to safety despite being shot several times in the leg. Benson is pictured at right receiving the medal from retired Air Force Col. Norman Schaefer while Benson’s wife, Stacey, looks on. Photo courtesy of the United States Department of Defense

A local man has received the American Legion Valor Award for his actions under attack in Afghanistan last fall.

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Patrick Benson, who grew up in the Bellevue/Ross area, joined the Army in 1992, hoping to fulfill his dream of becoming a helicopter pilot. Since 1996, he has been piloting Kiowa helicopters, small, armed aircraft that provide security for the larger Black Hawk Medevac helicopters, among other assignments.

On Sept. 8, 2009, Benson was the lead in a team of two Kiowas providing aerial security for a Medevac flying into a valley in eastern Afghanistan where two soldiers were injured.

"[The soldiers] were going to have to be hoist lifted out." Benson said. "The Black Hawk is very exposed during something like this. There was a lot of radio traffic indicating the enemy was in the area. I was scouting and trying to find what the infantry was telling me about. We were trying to find the enemy before they found us because we wanted to position ourselves between where the enemy was and the Medevac."

As the last soldier was being hoisted up, Benson's Kiowa was hit by a round of enemy fire from the ground. The Kiowa jerked up and to the right, out of control. Benson received multiple wounds in his right leg and his co-pilot, Adam Stead, was unconscious, having been shot in the back of the head. Benson grabbed the controls, recovered the helicopter and descended out of the valley.

The second Kiowa aircraft remained in the valley, engaging the enemy and escorting the Medevac to safety.

Benson's main mission was to get his co-pilot medical attention, and landed at the nearest friendly location -- Combat Outpost Able Main in Konar, Afghanistan. There, both Benson and his co-pilot received medical aid. He has since undergone several surgeries, including a skin graft, while Stead continues treatment for the injury he sustained.

For his actions on Sept. 8, Benson was awarded the American Legion Valor Award in addition to receiving a Purple Heart and a combat action badge.

The Valor Award has been presented annually since World War II to recognize military aviators who performed a feat of courage or bravery during the prior year. Each year the Navy, Air Force and Army select a qualified recipient.

Benson received his American Legion Valor Award with his wife, Stacey, by his side. He has three children, Collin, 15; Riley, 13; and Layne, 9. He is the son of Shirley Benson of Ross.

In response to being honored for his actions last September, Benson said, "There are a billion stories like this every day. Every day there are Americans out there doing this same stuff. There are so many service members doing great things in battle. We are doing what we're trained to do. Every single day, another American is doing something like what we were doing that day."