The night of Veterans Day, the Department of Defense announced Sunday a soldier from Glendora was killed in combat in Afghanistan.
The soldier was identified as Staff Sgt. Kenneth Wade Bennett, 26. According to the Department of Defense, Bennett died Saturday in Sperwan Gar from injuries sustained from an explosion of a buried enemy bomb.
Bennett was assigned to the 53rd Ordnance Company, 3rd Ordnance Battalion, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
To friends and family, he was known as Wade. He grew up in Glendora and graduated from Glendora High School in 2004. His mother, Nancy Bennett, is an active member on the Glendora Yellow Ribbon Project, which displays banners throughout the city for all Glendora service men and women currently serving.
Bennett's banner is located on Auto Center Drive near the 57 freeway entrance.
According to unit records, Bennett entered in the Army in Nov. 2004 and trained to become an explosive ordnance disposal specialist.
Bennett was on his third deployment to Afghanistan. He served there from Aug. 2007 to Nov. 2008 and from March 2010 to March 2011.
He was deployed to Afghanistan in September for his last mission.
Bennett earned numerous awards during his service, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, and Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge, among others.
According to a close family friend, Bennett was married to his wife Mandi. He had a 2-year-old daughter and another child on the way
This story will continue to be updated.
