Man of valor

POST FALLS — Leo Benoit proved himself during World War II, over and over again.

He was 18 years old when his Army division was assigned to Omaha Beach as part of D-Day on June 6, 1944.

He fought in the hedgerows against the Germans was wounded.

He survived 14 months of combat with the Third Army division under Gen. George Patton as he battled across Germany.

Benoit eventually arrived at Dachau, a German concentration camp. To this day, he can't get the images of what he saw — so many bodies — out of his mind.

“It was terrible,” the Coeur d’Alene man said.

He was a guard at the Nuremberg Trials, and served as a demolition man for the Army.

He looks back proudly on his time with the Army from 1944 to 1947 — yet he downplays his significance.

“I’m not looking for gratitude," he told The Press in a previous interview. "It’s just that I did do it. Looking back, I’m glad I did it."

The humble 95-year-old was left shaking his head in disbelief, and yet beaming with pride, when he was recently honored at the American Legion in Post Falls for his service to his country.

“I never expected anything like this,” he said. “I was really amazed.”

One of the few remaining local World War II vets, Benoit received the Quilt of Valor by the North Idaho chapter of the national Quilts of Valor Foundation.

Giannine O’Connor, QOV coordinator North Idaho, said one of the group’s members met Benoit at a ceremony in August celebrating the Post Falls Veterans Home scheduled for completion next year.

“We need to get him a quilt,” she told O’Connor, who agreed.

A surprise Quilts of Valor presentation was quickly scheduled for Benoit, described as “a true gentleman.”

Benoit can't believe it.

“What the hell can I do to deserve this?” he asked as he sat in his cozy living room. “I never expected it.”

Lillian Lind, his longtime partner, was pleased at the recognition for the man she loves.

“For those women to do that for our veterans, I think that’s wonderful,” she said.

The Quilts of Valor Foundation is an ongoing national service effort started by Catherine Roberts in 2003, inspired by her son's deployment to Iraq and her desire to see that returning troops were welcomed home with love and gratitude.

The foundation has presented over 225,000 quilts to veterans and service members in all 50 states. Its mission is to “cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”

The mission is being carried out locally by the Patriotic Piecers, a group of about 20 volunteers who meet at the American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls the third Monday of each month.

More than 300 local service members and veterans have been awarded Quilts of Valor by the Patriotic Piecers since the group was formed in the fall of 2013.

The group relies on donations for the fabric and batting used in each quilt, and the members donate their time to make each one unique and personal. The quilts are presented to all military service members regardless of conflict, declared war or otherwise, in which they served. 

“We try to reach out to as many veterans as we can,” O’Connor said.

Benoit remains strong though he needs a walker to get around their two-bedroom apartment. He is talkative, engaging and appreciative of all that he has and thankful for what he as able to do with his life. He loves his country and remains willing to do his part to fight for her.

His colorful Quilt of Valor is on display over the back of the couch in their living room.

“I can’t believe it,” he said of the ceremony in his honor. “It was quite a thing. I was really taken by it.”

Benoit isn't a man seeking recognition.

Decades ago, he was invited to a memorial at Omaha Beach, but declined. He didn’t want to relive those memories.

“I’ve been there once; I don't want to go do it again,” he said.

The Quilt of Valor he received left him smiling at his home, though he again expressed doubt he was worthy.

“I don't know why they did that for me,” he said. “I didn’t deserve anything like that.”

Yes, he did.

If anyone would like to nominate someone to receive a Quilt of Valor, visit qovf.org/

If you would like to volunteer to make a quilt or to join the Patriotic Piecers, contact O’Connor at patrioticpiecers@gmail.com.