Jim Benson began his professional career as a high school teacher and football and baseball coach.  However, with the Viet Nam war in the news, he felt the calling to lead in an environment where the stakes were higher, and there was less fame and recognition, so he signed up Officer Candidates School, shipped off to Quantico, VA for what began a 26 year career as a Marine officer.  By summer of 1969, he was an infantry platoon commander in Quang Nam Province in South Viet Nam.  Before the year was over, he became a company commander and went on the reach the rank of colonel before retiring in the summer of 1995.