US Congressman. Benjamin became the first American Assyrian to become a member of the U.S. Congress. After graduating from Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri, he joined the U.S. Marines and was honorably discharged as a Corporal. In 1954, Adam entered West Point and graduated an officer in 1958 with a BS Degree in Engineering. Then he served as a Senior Parachutist with the 101st Airborne Division, the "Screaming Eagles." Benjamin left the army in 1961 as a first lieutenant. Then he worked for the city of Gary becoming Executive Secretary to the Mayor in 1965. In 1966 he received his Jurist-Doctor Degree in Law from Valparaiso University Law School and was admitted to the Bar. In that same year, Adam Benjamin was elected State Representative. In the next year he was named "The Outstanding American of Assyrian Descent" by the General Assembly. In 1970 he was elected State Senator. The next year he was named as one of the two outstanding State Senators. In 1976, Benjamin ran as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Congress from the First Congressional District, Indiana. He won, becoming the first Assyrian to do so. Once in Washington, Benjamin rapidly gained the respect of those in power and advanced accordingly. He was a rising star with an astounding ability to get things done quite efficiently. He was intellectually brilliant, instinctively sensitive and succinctly eloquent. After missing an appointment, Benjamin was found dead in his Congressional office of apparent natural causes. A group of 82 Congressmen and senators paid eloquent tribute to their departed colleague in a Capitol Hill Memorial Service. His name has since been memorialized on many public works. Highway 51 through Hobart, Indiana is known as the "Adam Benjamin Memorial Highway."
US Congressman. Benjamin became the first American Assyrian to become a member of the U.S. Congress. After graduating from Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri, he joined the U.S. Marines and was honorably discharged as a Corporal. In 1954, Adam entered West Point and graduated an officer in 1958 with a BS Degree in Engineering. Then he served as a Senior Parachutist with the 101st Airborne Division, the "Screaming Eagles." Benjamin left the army in 1961 as a first lieutenant. Then he worked for the city of Gary becoming Executive Secretary to the Mayor in 1965. In 1966 he received his Jurist-Doctor Degree in Law from Valparaiso University Law School and was admitted to the Bar. In that same year, Adam Benjamin was elected State Representative. In the next year he was named "The Outstanding American of Assyrian Descent" by the General Assembly. In 1970 he was elected State Senator. The next year he was named as one of the two outstanding State Senators. In 1976, Benjamin ran as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Congress from the First Congressional District, Indiana. He won, becoming the first Assyrian to do so. Once in Washington, Benjamin rapidly gained the respect of those in power and advanced accordingly. He was a rising star with an astounding ability to get things done quite efficiently. He was intellectually brilliant, instinctively sensitive and succinctly eloquent. After missing an appointment, Benjamin was found dead in his Congressional office of apparent natural causes. A group of 82 Congressmen and senators paid eloquent tribute to their departed colleague in a Capitol Hill Memorial Service. His name has since been memorialized on many public works. Highway 51 through Hobart, Indiana is known as the "Adam Benjamin Memorial Highway."
Bio by: Warrick L. Barrett
Inscription
U.S. CONGRESSMAN- INDIANA
U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY-1958
HUSBAND AND FATHER
CPL 3RD MARINE DIV-1ST LT. AIRBORNE
Family Members
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Records on Ancestry
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