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Steven Logan Bennett was a United States Air Force pilot who fought in the Vietnam War. He was of the "Captain" rank.

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Born: April 22, 1946, Palestine, TX

Died: June 29, 1972 (age 26 years), Gulf of Tonkin

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Captain Steven L. Bennett was a U.S. Air Force pilot who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War. On June 29, 1972, he was flying an OV-10 Bronco on a mission to support South Vietnamese forces near Quang Tri.

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During the battle, he and his observer, a Marine artillery spotter, were directing airstrikes when enemy troops overran friendly positions. Bennett saw an opportunity to attack and made multiple low-level strafing runs with his aircraft’s small cannon, helping to push the enemy back.

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However, on his final pass, a surface-to-air missile struck his plane, crippling it. Normally, the observer had an ejection seat, but his parachute had been damaged. If Bennett ejected, the observer would be left with no chance of survival. Instead, Bennett chose to ditch the aircraft in the Gulf of Tonkin—a nearly impossible maneuver in a Bronco.

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The plane hit the water hard, and Bennett was trapped in the wreckage as it sank. His observer survived and was rescued. For his self-sacrificing bravery, Bennett was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1974.

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Captain Steven L. Bennett was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Gerald Ford on August 8, 1974. The medal was presented to his wife, Linda Bennett, at a ceremony at the White House.