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Subject: PRESS RELEASE
12-04-006: 82nd Airborne Division Paratrooper dies in southern
Afghanistan (UNCLASSIFIED)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
April 26, 2012
Release # 12-04-006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
82nd Airborne Division Paratrooper dies in southern Afghanistan
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - An 82nd Airborne Division Paratrooper died April 25
from an improvised explosive device in Zharay District, Kandahar
Province.
Cpl. Benjamin H. Neal, an Orfordville, Wis. native, served as an
Infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.
Cpl. Neal joined the Army June 2009 as an Infantryman and attended
One-Station Unit Training and Airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga. He
was assigned to the 1-508th PIR in November 2009. He joined the
Battalion in Southern Afghanistan in February 2010 for eight months.
This was his second deployment.
"Ben Neal was a charismatic, fun-loving Paratrooper whom I never saw
frown. He took great pride in being a team leader and was respected by
all of Battle Company and throughout the Battalion. Ben was a true
Paratrooper in every sense of the word" said Lt. Col. Ced Carrington,
the 1st Battalion Commander. "His loss will be sorely felt by his fellow
Paratroopers and the entire 1st Battalion Family."
His Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. Francis Debois, recounts
him as "always wanting to learn more and lead from the front. He lost
his life fighting for what he believed in and alongside his buddies. He
is a true professional."
His awards include the NATO Medal, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart,
the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National
Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign
Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service
Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and
the Parachutist Badge.
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Spc. Benjamin H. Neal, 21, of Orfordville, Wis., died April
25 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when enemy
forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th
Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Cpl. Benjamin Harold Neal, 21, of Fort Bragg N.C./Orfordville, WI was
reborn on April 25th, 2012 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan while
proudly serving his country. Benjamin was born at St. Clare Hospital in
Monroe, WI to Donald and Trisha (Ahrens) Neal on August 20, 1990. He
graduated from Parkview High School in 2009, where he was active in
Wrestling, FFA, and 4-H. On June 16, 2009 he proudly entered the US Army
reporting to Fort Benning, GA for Basic Training and graduated from
Airborne School. Cpl. Neal was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th
Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne
Division at Fort Bragg, NC and began his first deployment to Afghanistan
in January 2010. Benjamin was united in marriage to Emily Blaxill on
September 2, 2010 in Ft. Bragg, NC. Benjamin enjoyed his time spent with
family, music and the outdoors, especially the woods behind the home
farm.
Cpl. Neal's military honors include: the Purple Heart, NATO Medal, the
Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal,
the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with
Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army
Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.
Benjamin leaves behind his Brothers in Battle; his wife, Emily Ann; his
mother, Trisha (who he always stood up for); his father, Donald;
siblings: Bradley, Becca, Brendan, Brooke, Bridgette, all of Orfordville;
grandparents, Norm & Donna Ahrens, and Harold & Agnes Neal;
father-in-law, Ray Blaxill; mother-in-law, Julie Blaxill;
brother-in-law, Jon Blaxill; aunts and uncles: Mindy (James) Brancamp,
Kris (Kirt) Hoscheit, Georgia Erickson, Keith (Julie) Neal, Chris
(Kerry) McCartney, Dennis (Beth) Neal, Mary (Bill) Leffel, Mark (Vicki)
Neal, Patti (Phil) Wellnitz, Greg (Marissa) Neal, Brenda (Robert)
Hobson, Heidi (Shawn) Strzok, and Angela (Scott) Shelly; cousins:
Kayleigh & Elise (fiancée Jeff) Brancamp, Laura (fiancée Eric) and
Brittney (fiancée Eric) Martin, Elizabeth, Emma & Eli Hoscheit, J.J
(Donna) Johnson, Candace (Rod) Beggs, Neal (Kate) Johnson, Marcus
(Anita) Johnson, Dustin and Kevin Johnson, Jennifer (Shawn) Wellnitz,
Melissa (Adam) Perkins, Denise Neal, Jeremy (Lorna) McCartney, Jason (Shae)
McCartney, Zach and Grace Neal, Michael and Shelly Leffel, Megan (Andy)
Lewis, Laura (fiancée Aaron) Neal, Matthew (Sheena) Wellnitz, Dan,
Samantha, Phil, April, Molly, and James Wellnitz, Dan (Dana) Neal,
Rachel (fiancee Will) Neal, Renee, Justice, Mara and Jolie Neal, Michael
and Ashley Draeving, Lindsy and Christian Hobson, Mikayla, Morgan and
Nolan Strzok, Braden and Alexis Cook, Brody and Emma Shelly. Benjamin
was preceded in death by an Aunt Jodi Martin; cousins: Michael Martin,
Todd Draeving and Madeline Wellnitz.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday,
May 8, 2012 at ST. WILLIAM CATHOLIC CHURCH, Janesville, WI with the Fr.
Kevin Dooley presiding. A private visitation will be held on Monday, May
7, 2012 from 2-4 p.m. for the immediate and military family only. A
public visitation will follow from 4-9 p.m. at PARKVIEW HIGH SCHOOL,
Orfordville, WI. The Newcomer-Silverthorn Chapel on the Hill,
Orfordville is assisting the family.
Benjamin wished for himself, only to receive flowers. Other expressions
of sympathy may be given to the Farmers & Merchants Bank in Orfordville,
where an account has been set up. The money will be donated to a charity
for children with special needs whom Benjamin greatly cared for. |
