Thomas Benson

Admiral Thomas "Tug" Benson was an American naval officer and politician who served as President of the United States. As a military official, he commanded Operation Sleepy Weasel, an operation to destroy an Iraqi nuclear plant, which was successfully achieved by Lieutenant Sean "Topper" Harley. Benson subsequently was elected as President, during which he suffered from a series of gaffes and low approval ratings. His re-election campaign coincided with controversy over American prisoners of war in Iraq left behind following Operation Desert Storm. Several failed attempts led to the government seeking out Topper Harley after his retirement to take part in "secret mission to go in and get Walters and our boys back". After Harley went missing in action, President Benson led a three-man mission into enemy territory to assassinate Saddam Hussein. He assisted Harley with the rescue mission and was present when Harley killed Hussein.
==Biography==
===Early Life===
Benson claimed to have lost his virginity at the age of 15. (FILM: Hot Shots! Part Deux)
===Early Military Career===
====Education====
He attended Annapolis. (FILM: Hot Shots!)
====Second World War====
At some point during the Battle of the North Atlantic, Benson had to have his intestines removed after being hit by a torpedo. In his own words, "every foot" of his bowels were replaced with hemp, which clogged easily. (FILM: Hot Shots! Part Deux) Benson was shot in the head at the Battle of Corregidor. His ear canals were replaced with stainless steel prosthetics that allowed him to a push an hankey from one ear out the other. (FILM: Hot Shots!) He also sustained an injury to his bladder at Guadalcanal. (FILM: Hot Shots!) He claimed that after the Battle of Normandy his forehead was made of CorningWare. (FILM: Hot Shots!) His eyes were replaced with ceramic after taking a bazooka round at the Battle of Okinawa, though he later became confused whether or not it was Okinawa or the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He only remembered it as being "the one without the Indians." (FILM: Hot Shots!) By the time he became President, he would fondly recall strafing the homes of Japanese citizens. (FILM: Hot Shots! Part Deux) 
====Korean War====
He claimed to have been left with a shell the size of a fist in his head following the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. (FILM: Hot Shots!) He claimed his nostrils were burnt out in Panmunjom. (FILM: Hot Shots!) 
==== Later Service ====
He claimed to have flown on 194 missions during his career, and to have been shot down on every one of them. He failed to recall a moment when he had ever successfully landed an aircraft. (FILM: Hot Shots!) After a tanning parlour accident at Dien Bien Phu, Benson's skin was replaced with asbestos. (FILM: Hot Shots! Part Deux) Benson also had his tongue replaced with that of a basset hound after his own was chopped off and stolen by a communist child soldier in Laos. (FILM: Hot Shots! Part Deux)
== Weapons and Abilities ==
=== Prosthetics and Enhancements ===
* Pencil Sharpener: Benson had a pencil sharpener installed in his right ear. (FILM: Hot Shots! Part Deux)
* Fireproof Skin: Benson's skin was replaced with asbestos following a tanning parlour accident at Dien Bien Phu. (FILM: Hot Shots! Part Deux)
* Reinforced Skull: Though after an injury during the Battle of Normandy his forehead was replaced with CorningWare, (FILM: Hot Shots!) it had replaced with aluminium siding by the time of his duel with Saddam Hussein. (FILM: Hot Shots! Part Deux)
=== Skills ===
* Swordsmanship: Benson was a more than skilled enough swordsman to keep up with Saddam Hussein. He was equally proficient with lightsaber combat. (FILM: Hot Shots! Part Deux)
==Notes==
===Behind the Scenes===
*President Benson was played by American actor Lloyd Bridges.
*In his second appearance, Benson is a clear parody of George H. W. Bush, who also served as a naval aviator. Like Bush, Benson's military background implied him to have been affiliated with the Central Intelligence Agency, and he also vomited in the lap of a Japanese prime minister.
===References & Connections===
*Benson was ranked 12 out of 142 fictional film presidents, ahead of Andrew Shepherd but behind Diane Steen. The list cited his general incompetence but noted that he personally killed Hussein.Every Fictional President in Film History: Ranked (#20-11—The World Savers) - 28 June 2018 - America Fun Fact of the Day - Retrieved 19 February 2023
==Appearances==
*Hot Shots! (first appearance)
*Hot Shots! Part Deux (final appearance)
==References==
Category:Humans
Category:Heroes
Category:Murderers
Category:Admirals
Category:United States Navy
Category:Military
Category:American military
Category:Politicians
Category:American politicians
Category:Presidents
Category:American Presidents
Category:American Government
Category:World Leaders
Category:Washingtonians
Category:American characters
Category:Film characters
Category:Characters played by Lloyd Bridges
Category:Veterans of WWII
Category:Veterans of the Korean War