PERRYVILLE, Md. — WMAR-2 News is committed to improving the lives of Veterans in Maryland by shining a light on their stories, struggles and triumphs. Every week a local veteran will be featured in our Veteran Spotlight contest.
This week we are honoring Bob Bender of Perryville, who served in the United States Army during The Vietnam War and who received two Army Commendation Medals and a Bronze Star.
Bender is a retired captain from the Department of Veteran Affairs Police Department. In his free time, he enjoys drag racing and he once loaned his Bronze Star to Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher and Pro Stock driver Bo Butner. They raced at 325 miles per hour for almost four seconds.
He is a loving husband and father and his wife, Penny, calls him her hero. She's proud of his service and thankful for his dedication during her former fight against cancer.
Thank you for your service to our country and to the great state of Maryland.