Edward A. Bensman

Edward Anthony Bensman, 82, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away with his loving family at his side, on November 16th, 2019 at Greenwood Healthcare Center after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Ed was born February 19th, 1937 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Edward Christian and Alda Iona (Duke) Bensman. He is a 1955 graduate of Central Catholic High School in Fort Wayne – where he was the Editor-in-Chief of his high school senior yearbook. He was active in his High School’s Civics Club.

Ed enlisted in the Army Reserve in South Bend, Indiana in 1957 and later transferred to the Indiana National Guard in Muncie, Indiana in 1961. He received a reserve officer commission in 1963 through the Indiana Military Academy (Class 8-63). Ed entered active duty September 1964, with the US Army, and served two tours of duty in Vietnam (1966-67 and 1969-70), with the 1st Infantry Division (“Big Red One”), as Deputy G-5 (Civil Affairs). In April 1975, days before the fall of Saigon, he helped lead a small team evacuating over 250 orphans from the An Lac Orphanage in Vietnam, a mission that was later depicted in the 1980 television drama: The Children of An Lac.

Upon retirement from the Army, Ed worked for Firestone Building Products Division in Indianapolis. He served as Executive Director and State Chair of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) – a DoD program promoting cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and their National Guard and Reserve employees.

Ed was an avid reader and studied US and world history with a particular interest in military history. His great-grandfather served as a Union Army soldier in the Civil War. Ed was active in several local groups including the Civil War Roundtable, Sons of the American Revolution, World War II Roundtable and Indiana Historical Society.
Ed was a Life Member of several organizations including: Society of the 1st Infantry Division, AUSA, MOAA, ROA, 101st Airborne Division Association, American Legion and AMVETS.

In addition to his U.S. Military Service, Ed proudly served his native Hoosier State in the Indiana Guard Reserve (IGR), where he rose to the rank of Brigadier General, as Deputy Commander.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers John Edward (1929) and John Anthony (1935), both of whom died in their infancy. Ed is survived by his loving wife SoYoung (UnYe) Bensman, daughter Michelle Bensman (Breed, WI), and son Edward L. Bensman and his wife Marie (South Bend, IN), granddaughters Julia Oseguera (Jeffersonville, IN) and Maclaine Capshew (Vermillion, S.D.)

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 25, 2019 at Indiana Funeral Care, 8151 Allisonville Rd, Indianapolis, Indiana from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. From 7:15 - 7:45 p.m., there will be a remembrance ceremony where colleagues, friends, and family can share their memories of Ed; followed by the Rosary from 7:45 - 8:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at Ed’s Catholic parish home of Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 3356 West 30th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Final burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a date & time yet to be determined.