The One-Eyed Ugly Angel

Ben grew up in Palisades Park and was very involved in his Church. He attended Leonia High School and received varsity letters in football, wrestling, and was the captain of the track team. He was also President of Student Council. While Ben was in high school, his neighbor who was a Sea Captain, provided the opportunity to work during the summers as an Ordinary Seaman on the Military Sea Transport Service cargo ships. “At the age of 16, I got to see most of the world,” Ben recalled. “When I graduated high school in 1959, I briefly attended Mt. Saint Mary’s Seminary, and not finding my calling, enlisted in the US Marine Corps and was assigned to the Second Force Recon. While in the Marines I completed my college education and graduated from the University of Bridgeport and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps." Unbeknownst to Ben, the Marine Corps had other plans for him! "I thought that I would return to the Recon units in which I served, but instead received orders to flight school for pilot training!” Ben stated. "I never wanted to fly and had never flown in an aircraft other than to jump out of them!" 

Nevertheless, Ben received his wings in November of 1965. “I flew fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for the Marine Corps. I was promoted to Captain in January of 1967 and deployed to Vietnam in April 1967, where I supported ground combat units in the I Corps Area from south of DaNang to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Over the next year, I flew 850 combat missions as a H-34 Helicopter Pilot with HMM-362, known as the “Ugly Angels”. On April 30th,1968, toward the end of the Tet Offensive, I was launched on a night medevac mission off of the USS Iwo Jima to rescue five critically wounded Marines near the village of Dai Do, just south of the DMZ." Ben went on to explain that while the Marines were loading their wounded, they received intense enemy fire. Ben said that when he was hit, it felt and sounded like he was smacked in the face by a raw steak. Apparently in shock, he felt no pain, but was unable to see. He tried to clear his vision but was unable to do so, and tried to contact his co-pilot to fly them out. His co- pilot did not answer and Ben reached over and found him slumped over. Ben knew they could not stay on the ground as the fire was so intense, so he called his crew chief to give him directions as he flew blind. Ben was able to get the helicopter off the ground, guided by his crew chief, and then fly 10 miles to the coast with verbal instructions and directions from his wingman. Ben, his crew and all eight medevac were flown to the Hospital Ship USS Repose where they received medical treatment. Ben’s left eye was unable to be saved and was removed. It was questionable if he would ever gain vision in his right eye. With Divine Providence, all of the remaining crew and medevac survived. Ben spent the next 9 months in the Philadelphia Naval Hospital putting the pieces back together, and was able to regain the sight in his right eye. He was able to return to flight status for another year, until his good eye started to feel the effects of diminishing vision from the strain of operational flying.

At the age of 28 Ben was medically retired from the Marines, and received the honorary title “The One-eyed Ugly Angel” from his squadron mates in HMM-362, known as "The Ugly Angels".
During the course of Ben’s distinguished Marine Corps career, he was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, 32 Air Medals and Combat Action Ribbon, plus many more accolades. Ben was inducted into the NJ Aviation Hall of Fame in 2000.

Prior to retirement in 1969, he was assigned as a recruiting officer, officer selection and public relations for the Marine Corps in New York City. While he was recruiting, a fellow recruiting officer asked him what he planned to do with his life after retiring from the Marines. He was only 28 years old at this time. Ben replied with “I have no idea! All I know how to do is fly, and
no one is hiring one-eyed pilots”. The fellow officer suggested law school. By divine intervention, Ben received an acceptance letter to Fordham University Law School where he completed his law degree, and was admitted to the NJ Bar in 1973. Ben currently maintains his private practice in Franklin Lakes.

What an amazing story!  It was an honor and a privilege to interview you. Thank you for your service, Capt. Ben Cascio. Semper Fi!

Written by Eileen Perri and Kerri Sirinides; Newsletter Commissioner and Chair