A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he trained as Anti-Aircraft Artillery officer and participated in the Defense of Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal Campaign and Battle of Okinawa.

[1] He participated in the patrolling against Caicos bandits until September 1929, when he was ordered back to the United States and attached to the Marine Corps Base San Diego.

Benner was ordered with a detachment of one officer, eight enlisted marines, and two navy hospital corpsmen, to Midway Atoll in July 1940 and relieved Captain Samuel G. Taxis and his detail.

[4][5][6] Benner then assumed command of 90mm Anti Aircraft Group of twelve guns and accompanied his unit to Guadalcanal in mid-August 1942 with the task of the anti-aircraft protection of Henderson Field captured by Marines few days earlier.

[1][2][7][8] Lieutenant colonel Benner was ordered to Hawaii in August 1943 and was appointed a member of the Joint Staff, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet under Admiral Chester Nimitz.

He was responsible for the co-ordination of Army, Navy and Marine Corps efforts in the disposition of forces required for the operation and maintenance of the advance bases.

[1][9] Following the War, Benner was ordered to Washington, D.C., where he was appointed to the Personnel Division, Headquarters Marine Corps under Major general John T. Walker.

He served as Assistant Director of Personnel for several months in 1950 and later was ordered to the Coronado, California, where he joined the headquarters of Amphibious Training Command, Pacific Fleet under Brigadier general John T.

Benner remained in this capacity until June 30, 1956, when he retired from active service and was advanced to the rank of brigadier general for having been specially commended in combat.