Col. Harold Bentz

Col. Harold F. Bentz, Jr. (USA Ret.) of Saranac Lake, NY, died on Tuesday February 15, 2011 at the age of 86, the son of Harold and Amelia Bentz. Col. Bentz was a graduate of the Saranac Lake High School in 1942 and went on to graduate with a BS degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1946. He further received an MA degree in Political Science from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1954.

After receiving his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry in 1946, he served in the US Army for 30 years, retiring from the service in 1976. During those intervening years, Col. Bentz had an extremely varied and interesting career, holding various command and staff assignments from platoon level to the staffs of Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the Secretary of Defense. After attending Airborne School and receiving his parachute wings, his first assignment took him to Japan in 1947 where he was assigned as a platoon leader in the 21st Infantry, 24th Division located at Kumamoto on the island of Kyushu. A year later he was placed on a year’s temporary duty as the Legal and Government Officer with the Nagasaki Military Government Team, which oversaw the governing of the Prefecture of Nagasaki during the military occupation of Japan. He later returned to the 21st Infantry as a Company Commander.

Back in the States, Col. Bentz was a Company Commander in the 14th Regimental Combat Team (Mountain) [the last remaining ski troops following World War II] at Ft. Carson, CO. He was then assigned as a battalion operations officer in the 30th Infantry Regiment at Ft. Benning, GA before being selected by the Army to receive an advanced degree. Following graduation from Tulane University, he was assigned as an instructor at the Special Operations School at Ft. Bragg, NC. Following this assignment he was transferred to Hawaii to become plans officer for the 14th Psychological Operations Battalion. He later took command of that battalion and moved it to Okinawa, which was administered by the US Army. Transferring back to the States he was on the staff of the 501st Airborne Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Ft. Campbell, KY, prior to being assigned to the staff of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam in 1961. Because of his training and experience in Special Operations in Vietnam, Col. Bentz was selected to join the operations staff (DCSOPS) in the Army Headquarters at the Pentagon. Three years later he was elevated to the Special Operations staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). After five years in the Pentagon, he was happy to finally leave to join the 4th Infantry Division in the highlands of Vietnam in 1967. During this second tour in Vietnam his assignments included the Division staff, infantry battalion commander, and deputy brigade commander, the position he held during the Tet Offensive of 1968.

Following his tour in Vietnam, Col. Bentz took command of the 7th Psychological Operations Group on Okinawa for the next four years. This unit was responsible for military propaganda operations throughout the Far East and Southeast Asia. He then joined the staff of the Pacific Command (CINCPAC) in Hawaii. His final assignment before retiring in 1976 was in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.

Col. Bentz’s awards and decorations included the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star with V device for valor, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Vietnam Service medal with four battle stars, and the Combat Infantry Badge.

Returning to the Adirondaks where he and his wife could pursue their love for golfing, skiing, canoeing and bicycling, he became involved in community affairs which included District Commissioner of the Boy Scouts, Board member of Meals on Wheels, member of Rotary and President and long time Board member of the Saranac Lake Free Library.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, of Saranac Lake and a step-son, Thomas B. Holt of San Francisco.

Funeral arrangements are with the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. There will be no viewing or services. Friends wishing to remember Col. Bentz may make memorial contributions to the Saranac Lake Free Library in care of the funeral home.