Valarie R. Bennett
U.S. Navy 1966 – 2004
Valarie was born in May 1966 in Tuskegee, Ala., the third of her mother’s four children. The name on her birth certificate was Blank Blank Bennett, a common way to complete a birth certificate for a baby not expected to survive. Eighteen years later, her mother had to complete almost as much paperwork as Valarie did to obtain a proper birth certificate so Valarie could join the Navy. In May 1984 she reported to Orlando, Fla., for Basic training followed by Seaman training. She then headed to Cleveland, Ohio, to work at Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). As a non-designated seaman, her job was balancing payrolls. A year later, she departed DFAS for Photographer Mate “A” School in Pensacola, Fla.
After graduating “A” School, she accepted orders to Anacostia Naval Station in Washington, D.C. where she worked at Navy and Marine Corps News. There she was active in producing 30-minute news shows for the fleet. After completing “C” School for videography and then graphics school, she produced all media training for officers and senior civilians in the D.C. area. One of her more enjoyable duties was to conduct a weekly interview with the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Mike Boorda. The highlight of her tour, however, came in December 1989 when she gave birth to her son, Mack. Her next orders were to USS Hunley (AS-31) where she worked in the photography lab. She was the liaison to the Commanding Officer during their humanitarian deployment in support of Hurricane Andrew Recovery. She was a member of the decommissioning crew; but, prior to the decommissioning, she received orders to Gulfport Naval Construction Battalion Base in Gulfport, Miss. As part of the be photography lab, taking/processing/printing photographs was her primary job. She worked with the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) and local Chamber of Commerce to plan events to help unify the military and civilian communities. She also worked with the PAO to plan and execute base family activities.
Navy and Marine Corps News Detachment at Naval Station 32nd Street, San Diego, Calif., was her next command. She became famous for dangling from helicopters with her 50–75-pound camera/equipment to get the needed shots. Valarie was hand-picked to cover several important events: (1) the address to the troops at Camp Pendelton by the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush; (2) the remake of the movie “Pearl Harbor”; (3) the filming of “Men of Honor”; and (4) a ride with the Blue Angels by one of the original Tuskegee airmen. She won a civilian media award for her story shot during a live fire exercise at Camp Pendleton. From San Diego she reported to her last duty station, Naples, Italy, where she worked for Armed Forces Radio and Television. She prepared radio and television spots for local stations plus conducted the usual “grip and grins” necessary to maintain good relations with host countries. The most laid back of her duty stations, she grew to love Italy. She transferred to Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, Tenn., to be processed for her August 2004 retirement.
For her service to our country, Valarie was awarded two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, a Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, five Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, a Humanitarian Service Medal, a Service Deployment Ribbon, and three Flag Letters of Commendation.
Valarie is extremely active in the community. She has never met a stranger and is always willing to lend help wherever needed. She has been a youth leader at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, an active member of their Fall Festival committee, an active usher, and works Vacation Bible School. She is an elected officer of both the Charles Porter Smith American Legion Post 237 in Covington and the Disabled American Veterans Millington Chapter 116. She is an active member of Military Women Across the Nation Memphis Belles Unit 151 and Tipton County Veterans Council. Valarie was nominated for Veteran of the Month by her friend, Kathy Desjarlais, the November 2023 Veteran of the Month.