A Medal for Benny is a 1945 American drama film directed by Irving Pichel.

The story was conceived by writer Jack Wagner, who enlisted his long-time friend John Steinbeck to help him put it into script form.

Benny Martin leaves his small town of Pantera and joins the Army after getting in trouble with the police.

She eventually falls for Joe and agrees to marry him but then finds out that Benny was killed in action and has been awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.

However, Benny’s father Charley, refuses to go along with the ruse and instead the medal ceremony takes place at his home.