Lynnwood native earns combat patch at Veterans Day ceremony

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, November 19, 2006

Maj. Michael Benson of Lynnwood, a member of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, was recognized during a Veterans Day insignia ceremony in Kirkuk, Iraq.

The shoulder-sleeve insignia, commonly referred to as the unit patch, is an emblem usually worn on the left shoulder. It identifies a soldier’s assigned unit and represents that unit’s history and achievements.

When awarded and worn on the right shoulder, the unit patch is termed a combat patch and denotes service in a combat zone.

Benson was among soldiers from five battalions in the brigade who received combat patches.

Raised in Lynnwood, Benson was the valedictorian of his class at Meadowdale Senior High School and is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is in his 12th year of military service and serving his first combat tour of duty.