Success & Service: Marine group recognizes Beyer High graduate

Master Sgt. William S. Benedict, a 1996 Beyer High graduate, received the Master Gunnery Sgt. Samuel C. Plott Staff Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year award at the annual Marine Corps Association & Foundation Intelligence Dinner last month in Arlington, Va.

The award is given for outstanding leadership and is presented annually in memory of Plott, who served 26 years in the Corps.

Benedict enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1996 and attended the Defense Language Institute, graduating in November 1998 as a Russian cryptologic linguist. He has served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He currently serves as the Marine Special Operations Intelligence Company's senior enlisted adviser.

Benedict is a graduate of the radio reconnaissance indoctrination program; survival, evasion, resistance and escape course; cold weather survival course; urban reconnaissance and surveillance course; U.S. Army Airborne School; Navy Dive School; military free fall course; and the U.S. Army jumpmaster advanced course.

Benedict's personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal. Benedict is married to the former Shannon Silva and has one son, Chase.

Yosemite National Park's Historic Preservation Program received the Appleman-Judd-Lewis award last month. The award recognizes expertise and outstanding contributions to cultural resource stewardship and management by permanent full-time employees of the National Park Service. The crew completed a collaborative preservation effort on the fountain of the historic Wawona Hotel in Wawona. The program was one of four programs or individuals honored by the park service.

Terry McGrath of Modesto is the new lieutenant governor of Division 46 of the California-Nevada, Hawaii District Kiwanis Clubs. The division covers 16 Kiwanis Clubs in the four counties of Stanislaus, Merced, Calaveras and Mariposa. He is a member of Modesto Kiwanis, which recently seated President Karen Peterson, President-elect Jim Mesquit, Vice President Margaret Trammell, Secretary Don Ross and Treasurer Paul Hearst.

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