David E. Benedict

David E. Benedict served on board the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVA-11) as a yeoman second class (YN2) in the Engineering Department from 1958 until 1961. Benedict was Native American and grew up on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, Akwesasne, in New York. He served in the Army before joining the Navy in 1958. On board Intrepid, Benedict was initially assigned to the boiler room in the B Division. He moved to a position as a yeoman in the Engineering Department office. In 1961, steam lines ruptured, and steam flowed into Benedict's work area. Benedict rescued a fellow crew member who was trapped. Benedict retired from the Navy in 1975 as a chief petty officer. The Museum interviewed Benedict for the oral history collection in 2014 (see OHP.034).