Billy Lankford Bendit

1933 - 2014

Billy Lankford Bendit

Virginia Beach - Billy Lankford Bendit died suddenly December 29, 2014 at Virginia Beach General Hospital surrounded by his loved ones.

He was born on June 24, 1933 in Norfolk, Virginia to Elsie Itro Bendit and S. Lee Bendit. He spent his early years in New Jersey and the Washington, D.C. area attending local public schools. From 1947 to 1951, he was appointed a Page in the U.S. House of Representatives and graduated from the Capital Page School. He is also a graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D. C.

Mr. Bendit was preceded in death by his parents, his son William "Billy" Ligon Bendit, brothers Donald, Bobby, Jackie, Lance, sister, Janet and brother-in-law Edward Gustav Stromberg. He is survived by his wife of 54 years Anne Christine Bendit, son Christopher "Skip" Scott Bendit and numerous nieces and nephews.

After receiving his commission from Officer Candidate after School in 1957, he served in Destroyers and Cruisers in Operational, Weapons and Executive Officers billets. In 1961, he was assigned to Tufts University as Assistant Professor of Naval Science for Weapon Systems during which time he attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Returning to sea in 1963, he was Weapons Officer of a nuclear weapons destroyer.

Mr. Bendit graduated from the Defense Intelligence School, Washington, D.C. in 1966 and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander before reporting for duty to the Commander in Chief, United States European Command as an Intelligence Operations Officer and Chief of the Intelligence Support and Indications Center. He served as Executive Officer of the Destroyer, USS CORRY from 1968 to 1970 during which time the ship was deployed in support of the U. S. effort in Southeast Asia. In October 1970, he reported as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence and Liaison Office to the Guam and Trust Territories civilian governments for the Commander Naval Forces Marianas, Guam. At his time, he was promoted to Commander.

In 1973, Mr. Bendit attended the Department of Defense Foreign Language Institute for French instruction prior to assuming duties as the Liaison Officer for Plans and Operations to the Chief of the Navy of the Republic of Cambodia. He departed Cambodia in March, 1975 to assume and assignment as the Long Range Objectives and Strategic Briefings Officer on the NATO Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic. In this position he represented the Commander at high level meeting and was liaison with French Military Authorities.

In addition to the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal, Mr. Bendit has the national Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, with three stars, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon.

Mr. Bendit's foreign awards include the presentation in 1975 by President of the Republic of Cambodia of the Order of National Defense Medal. In 1978, he was appointed to the rank of Chevalier in the National Order of Merit by the President of the Republic of France.

Mr. Bendit will be dearly remembered by all for his intelligence, humor, and dedication to his family.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 AM, Friday, January 2nd, 2015 at H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Laskin Road Chapel. Burial with military honors will take place in Arlington national Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.