Corporal Bennett was born at Fort Lewis, the son of Doris and Dempsey Bennett. He grew up in the Spanaway area and attended Bethel Junior High School and was a 2004 graduate of Bethel High School. He joined the Army at the age of 19. Currently assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley, Kansas, he was killed when he encountered an improvised explosive device and small arms fire, less than two weeks from completing his 15-month tour. He loved his parents and brother deeply. He is survived by his father, Dempsey L. Bennett; mother, Doris V. Bennett; brother, Darnell T. Bennett, all of Spanaway, Washington; sister, Shanetta McCoy, of Nashville, Georgia; grandparents, Amos and Christine Bennett, of Nashville, Georgia, and Charlie-Mae Hawthorne, Lake Placid; god parents Sam and Joann Mack Puyallup, Washington, and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins and caring friends.
