In Memory of Ben Larson - USMA '03
Benjamin Paul Larson.
Our classmate, our friend, our brother-in-arms.
"The long gray line of us stretches,
thro' the years of a century told
And the last man feels to his marrow,
the grip of your far off hold.
Grip hands with us now though we see not,
grip hands with us strengthen our hearts.
As the long line stiffens and straightens
with the thrill that your presence imparts.
Grip hands tho' it be from the shadows.
While we swear, as you did of yore.
Or living, or dying, to honor,
the Corps, and the Corps, and the Corps."
~
We have created this page to do our small part to honor your memory.
~
The West Point Class of 2003 has set a goal to raise $10K in Ben's honor and donate to a few organizations that were particularly dear to him:
Operation Black Hills Cabin - OBHC (https://vimeo.com/122006765), the West Point Skeet & Trap Team, and the Wounded Warrior Project -- with OBHC receiving the majority of funds raised.
If each classmate contributes $20.03, we will easily meet our goal and provide funding that will effectively allow the OBHC to operate for a year, offering services that are invaluable to our fellow veterans and their families.
We plan to collect donations until the memorial service for Ben which will occur at 2:00 p.m., Friday, June 26, 2015, at the Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis, SD.
If you'd like to post a eulogy about Ben, we invite you to do so on his West Point Eulogy and Memorial Page:
http://www.west-point.org/users/usma2003/60339/
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Benjamin Paul Larson, age 33, of Rapid City, SD, passed away on April 10, 2015, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City.
Benjamin was born at Reynolds Army Hospital, Fort Sill, OK, on May 9, 1981. He was Army from day one; a battery of howitzers crossing the road interrupted his ride home from the hospital.
Ben grew up in Aberdeen, SD, graduating from Roncalli High School with honors in 1999. During those years in Aberdeen, Ben developed a keen interest in hunting, fishing and anything firearms related. He gained a reputation as the “go to guy” when anyone had a question about guns. Football, track and school plays were a few of the extracurricular activities Ben enjoyed. When he was in his Plebe year at West Point he commented that the physical training wasn’t too bad when compared to Mr. Dosch’s football conditioning.
He was the fellow who everyone wanted to be around. Extremely intelligent, Ben could talk with anyone on any subject and he loved it. He has friends around the world who will miss him dearly. Scouting became an important part of his life and as a member of Troop 10; he attended several camps including Philmont and Boundary Waters High Adventure Camps. Ben attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
In 1999, Ben earned an appointment to the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. He graduated with a degree in systems engineering and law and a commission as a second lieutenant. While on active duty he served with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg and had posts in Korea and Fort Jackson, SC. At the end of his five year commitment he left active duty to work at BAE Systems in Minneapolis. While there, he continued his military career with the Minnesota Army National Guard and made the conversion from air defense artillery to cavalry. He deployed to Iraq as a Captain with the 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry, MNARNG.
Ben lost several close friends to Southwest Asia and also to the demons that followed them home. He himself suffered from PTSD, severe survivor’s guilt and depression. Those maladies finally led to his death at Rapid City Regional Hospital on April 10, 2015
Benjamin is survived by his parents, Paul & Karen Larson, Custer, SD; sister, Meg (Steve) Kugler, New Raymer, CO; brother, Joseph (Laina) Larson, Rapid City, SD; grandmother, Dorothy Wehrkamp, Sioux Falls, SD; niece, Hannah Kugler and nephew, Case Kugler. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Oscar and Myrtle Larson and his maternal grandfather Robert Wehrkamp.
Ben, you are loved and missed. Be thou at peace.