Benson was in an untenable position. He was dealt a bad hand by fate, starting with a politically correct crew.
“...with a politically correct crew.”
And it will cost you nearly every time...BTDT, back in the affirmative action 70s when my platoon received an administrative in-battalion transfer of an NCO who was being kid-gloved towards retirement. He was a 17-years-in-service E-6 Staff Sergeant who was never going to make E-7. Screwed up a live missile technical inspection and neither I nor the platoon sergeant could stop the screw-up before the observers had marked down the error. I was not allowed to make reference to the incident nor greatly impact the scoring on his Enlisted Efficiency Report due to decisions made above me about sending him toward the door at 20.