Editing Chester R. Bender (section)

==Early life and education==
Bender was born in [[Burnsville, West Virginia]], on March 14, 1914, and later moved with his parents John I. Bender and Inez Harbert Bender, to [[Plant City, Florida]] in 1925. In 1932, he was appointed as a cadet at the [[United States Coast Guard Academy]] at [[New London, Connecticut]]. During his time at the academy, he served two years on the [[boxing|boxing squad]] and as humor editor of ''Tide Rips'', the academy yearbook. He served as gun captain during his senior year. He graduated from the academy on June 8, 1936 and received a bachelor of science degree and a commission as a Coast Guard ensign. He was the first Floridian to graduate from the academy.<ref name=USCG1>Admiral Chester R. Bender, U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office</ref>