Howard H. J. Benson

Howard Hartwell James Benson
Commodore Howard H. J. Benson, USN
Born	(1888-10-08)October 8, 1888 Baltimore, Maryland, US
Died	January 28, 1975(1975-01-28) (aged 86) Greenbelt, Maryland, US
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1909–1946
Rank	Commodore
Commands held	Gulf Sea Frontier USS Washington USS Tennessee USS Holland
Battles/wars	World War I Nicaraguan Campaign World War II Battle of the Atlantic
Awards	Navy Cross Legion of Merit
Relations	ADM William S. Benson (father)

Howard Hartwell James Benson (October 8, 1888 – January 28, 1975) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Commodore. A son of Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral William S. Benson, he distinguished himself as commanding officer of the destroyer USS Roe during World War I and received the Navy Cross, the U.S. Navy's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.^[1]

Benson remained in the Navy during the interwar period and rose to the rank of captain. He commanded the battleship USS Washington during the patrols in the Atlantic in the early stage of World War II. He was later promoted to commodore and transferred to the headquarters Gulf Sea Frontier, where he served as Chief of Staff for the remainder of the war.^[2]