Saluting Corporal Kopp
Jul 18, 2015 3:42:32 GMT -6
Post by Moderator on Jul 18, 2015 3:42:32 GMT -6
Saluting Corporal Kopp
by Jeff Seeber
Corporal Benjamin Kopp was a member of the U.S. Army 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment from Fort Benning, Georgia. He served two combat tours in Iraq before arriving in Afghanistan in the spring of 2009. On July 10, he was wounded in the leg when Taliban insurgents attacked his unit in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. A bullet hit his secondary femoral artery, causing severe loss of blood. He went into cardiac arrest while on the operating table at a battalion aid station.
CPL Kopp was transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. He was in a medically-induced coma and on a ventilator when he died on July 18, 2009 at the age of 21. Ben had indicated his preference for organ donation on his driver's license and also in the Living Will he prepared prior to deployment. It is estimated that his donated organs, bones, skin and tissue saved or enhanced the lives of approximately 60 people. Even in death, Ben Kopp continues to serve some five dozen citizens of the nation he loved and died for.
Ben arrived at Saint Paul Downtown Airport, also known as Holman Field, on Monday, July 27. A memorial service was held the following Saturday in his hometown of Rosemount, Minnesota. The family had invited the Minnesota Patriot Guard to stand in honor of Ben's life and sacrifice at each of the events, and that's why I was at Holman Field on Tuesday, August 4 when Corporal Kopp left Minnesota for the final time on his way to Arlington National Cemetery.
Members of the Patriot Guard, each holding a United States flag, lined both sides of the street in front of the National Guard hangar as the procession of vehicles accompanying the hearse arrived. When the procession had passed and gone to the other side of the building, the Patriot Guard Riders reformed the line of flags on the tarmac for the departure ceremony. It was too far for me to walk, so I stayed with the motorcycles that were parked in a fenced-in area next to the hangar.
Soon thereafter, two of the police squads that escorted the procession pulled up and parked where I had moved my chair. The officers had recognized me from other Patriot Guard missions and Military Salute Project events so they decided to stop and say hello. The three of us moved inside the fenced area to sit at a picnic table that also served as the designated smoking area.
We were eventually joined by three Soldiers who were members of the U.S. Army Honor Guard after they had completed their part of the ceremony. The six of us talked for about 30 minutes and then we heard the jet engines start. When the plane left the hangar area and began to taxi to the head of the runway, we stood and moved as close to the fence as we could get. As the plane started its takeoff roll and approached us, we spontaneously came to Attention and saluted. Without realizing it, the six of us had formed a straight line. I happened to be at the end of the line and closest to the end of the runway.
We held our salute as the jet gained altitude and began to bank towards the east on its way to Arlington, Virginia. One of the Soldiers said, "Order Arms!" and we slowly dropped our salutes. It was as if we had trained as a unit for months. The gravity of the moment seized all of us and none of us said a word. We just stood there and watched the jet disappear into the blue sky. It was then that we heard the Patriot Guard Riders returning. As the six of us were shaking hands and saying goodbye, the police officer who had been standing next to me said, "Doc, you were closest to the end of the runway, so that makes you the last person to salute Corporal Kopp in Minnesota."
I have never forgotten that moment. I had no idea at the time that I would meet Jill Stephenson, Ben's mom, and that my wife and I would become friends with her. I had no idea at the time that I would meet Judy Meikle, the recipient of Ben's heart, and that she would take my hand and place it on her chest so I could feel her new heart beating.
During one of our many conversations, Jill told me about Ben's interest in the military from the time he was little. She also told me about his respect for the Veterans who served before him, especially those who served during the Vietnam War. That was when I told her about saluting Ben as he left Minnesota for the last time.
Since 2003, I have tried my best to express my appreciation and respect for the men and women who have served since September 11, 2001. Like many of my brothers and sisters who served during Vietnam, I firmly believe that those who have put on a uniform since 9/11 are the primary reason Vietnam Vets have been able to publicly recognize the buddies we lost and return from our self-imposed exile.
When Jill told me about Ben's respect for Vietnam Veterans and that she had gained numerous Vietnam Vets as friends following Ben's death, I began to view my salute to Ben that day in a different light. Instead of it being "me" that saluted him, I'd like to think I was representing my brother and sister Vietnam Veterans who respect and admire those who served during the War On Terror, especially those who gave their lives. In addition, I'd like to think my salute to Ben was also a salute to his family and all of the other families who lost a loved one during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
I never met Corporal Ben Kopp. I know he served honorably and he died in combat. I had buddies who served honorably and died in combat four decades earlier. While I never met Ben, I feel as if I know at least something about him, because he had the same dedication to duty and country that my buddies had. I think of him as my brother, just as my buddies who died 45 years ago were my brothers. As long as I am alive, I will never forget his sacrifice. Corporal Kopp, I salute you!
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Along with numerous other decorations, Corporal Benjamin Stephen Kopp was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device, the Meritorious Service Medal, and a Purple Heart. He was laid to rest in Section 60, Site 9088 in Arlington National Cemetery on August 7, 2009. May he rest in eternal peace.
by Jeff Seeber
Corporal Benjamin Kopp was a member of the U.S. Army 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment from Fort Benning, Georgia. He served two combat tours in Iraq before arriving in Afghanistan in the spring of 2009. On July 10, he was wounded in the leg when Taliban insurgents attacked his unit in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. A bullet hit his secondary femoral artery, causing severe loss of blood. He went into cardiac arrest while on the operating table at a battalion aid station.
CPL Kopp was transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. He was in a medically-induced coma and on a ventilator when he died on July 18, 2009 at the age of 21. Ben had indicated his preference for organ donation on his driver's license and also in the Living Will he prepared prior to deployment. It is estimated that his donated organs, bones, skin and tissue saved or enhanced the lives of approximately 60 people. Even in death, Ben Kopp continues to serve some five dozen citizens of the nation he loved and died for.
Ben arrived at Saint Paul Downtown Airport, also known as Holman Field, on Monday, July 27. A memorial service was held the following Saturday in his hometown of Rosemount, Minnesota. The family had invited the Minnesota Patriot Guard to stand in honor of Ben's life and sacrifice at each of the events, and that's why I was at Holman Field on Tuesday, August 4 when Corporal Kopp left Minnesota for the final time on his way to Arlington National Cemetery.
Members of the Patriot Guard, each holding a United States flag, lined both sides of the street in front of the National Guard hangar as the procession of vehicles accompanying the hearse arrived. When the procession had passed and gone to the other side of the building, the Patriot Guard Riders reformed the line of flags on the tarmac for the departure ceremony. It was too far for me to walk, so I stayed with the motorcycles that were parked in a fenced-in area next to the hangar.
Soon thereafter, two of the police squads that escorted the procession pulled up and parked where I had moved my chair. The officers had recognized me from other Patriot Guard missions and Military Salute Project events so they decided to stop and say hello. The three of us moved inside the fenced area to sit at a picnic table that also served as the designated smoking area.
We were eventually joined by three Soldiers who were members of the U.S. Army Honor Guard after they had completed their part of the ceremony. The six of us talked for about 30 minutes and then we heard the jet engines start. When the plane left the hangar area and began to taxi to the head of the runway, we stood and moved as close to the fence as we could get. As the plane started its takeoff roll and approached us, we spontaneously came to Attention and saluted. Without realizing it, the six of us had formed a straight line. I happened to be at the end of the line and closest to the end of the runway.
We held our salute as the jet gained altitude and began to bank towards the east on its way to Arlington, Virginia. One of the Soldiers said, "Order Arms!" and we slowly dropped our salutes. It was as if we had trained as a unit for months. The gravity of the moment seized all of us and none of us said a word. We just stood there and watched the jet disappear into the blue sky. It was then that we heard the Patriot Guard Riders returning. As the six of us were shaking hands and saying goodbye, the police officer who had been standing next to me said, "Doc, you were closest to the end of the runway, so that makes you the last person to salute Corporal Kopp in Minnesota."
I have never forgotten that moment. I had no idea at the time that I would meet Jill Stephenson, Ben's mom, and that my wife and I would become friends with her. I had no idea at the time that I would meet Judy Meikle, the recipient of Ben's heart, and that she would take my hand and place it on her chest so I could feel her new heart beating.
During one of our many conversations, Jill told me about Ben's interest in the military from the time he was little. She also told me about his respect for the Veterans who served before him, especially those who served during the Vietnam War. That was when I told her about saluting Ben as he left Minnesota for the last time.
Since 2003, I have tried my best to express my appreciation and respect for the men and women who have served since September 11, 2001. Like many of my brothers and sisters who served during Vietnam, I firmly believe that those who have put on a uniform since 9/11 are the primary reason Vietnam Vets have been able to publicly recognize the buddies we lost and return from our self-imposed exile.
When Jill told me about Ben's respect for Vietnam Veterans and that she had gained numerous Vietnam Vets as friends following Ben's death, I began to view my salute to Ben that day in a different light. Instead of it being "me" that saluted him, I'd like to think I was representing my brother and sister Vietnam Veterans who respect and admire those who served during the War On Terror, especially those who gave their lives. In addition, I'd like to think my salute to Ben was also a salute to his family and all of the other families who lost a loved one during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
I never met Corporal Ben Kopp. I know he served honorably and he died in combat. I had buddies who served honorably and died in combat four decades earlier. While I never met Ben, I feel as if I know at least something about him, because he had the same dedication to duty and country that my buddies had. I think of him as my brother, just as my buddies who died 45 years ago were my brothers. As long as I am alive, I will never forget his sacrifice. Corporal Kopp, I salute you!
---------------------------------
Along with numerous other decorations, Corporal Benjamin Stephen Kopp was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device, the Meritorious Service Medal, and a Purple Heart. He was laid to rest in Section 60, Site 9088 in Arlington National Cemetery on August 7, 2009. May he rest in eternal peace.