US Navy. Born 1845 in Denmark. No War: Seaman. Enlisted at Yokohama, Japan. Awarded the Medal of Honor for action on board the U.S.S. Ossipee on 20 Jun 1872. Risking his life, Benson leaped into the sea while the ship was going at a speed of four knots and endeavored to save John K. Smith, landsman, of the same vessel, from drowning. Sources: (“America’s Medal of Honor Recipients”. Publ. 1977, pp 334, 1011)
