Benjamin Lee Tebault was born December 4, 1942, in Portland, OR, and later moved to Oradell, NJ. His home of record is Oradell, NJ. He had two sisters, Elizabeth and Sara. Benjamin attended River Dell Regional High School and graduated in 1960.
Tebault served in the US Marine Corps where he attained the rank of Captain (CAPT/03). He was a member of Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 212, Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station, Hawaii.
On June 4, 1972, Tebault was killed in action in the Binh Dinh Province of South Vietnam. He was returning from a bombing run when his F-4 Phantom aircraft was shot down by enemy fire. He was 29 years old. He was on his second tour in Vietnam. He was the last known Bergen resident to die in the war.
Tebault is buried at Skyline Memorial Gardens, Portland, OR, alongside his parents, Ethel M. Tebault and Alfred L. Tebault.
He had two sons, Jason Lee and Jonathan Benjamin and a wife, Patricia.
His picture and a plaque acknowledging his sacrifice hang in the lobby of River Dell Regional High School. Tebault was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Sources: James Lake (principal, River Dell High School), Lt. Col. Tim Crowley (historian), The Record, and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024