Deceased Ranger lives on

The casket of Cpl. Benjamin Kopp is carried into a high school gymnasium by fellow Army Rangers at the start of a memorial service on August 1 in Rosemount, Minnesota. Kopp was wounded in Afghanistan on July 10 and died of his wounds at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on July 18. (Photo by Thomas Whisenand/Getty Images)

This story kind of hits home for me, from Army Times:

Army Cpl. Benjamin Kopp, a Ranger, died last month after being wounded in Afghanistan, but a part of the Minnesota soldier lives on.

His family agreed to donate his organs, and now a 57-year-old Chicago woman feels privileged to have received the Rosemount soldier’s heart.

Judy Meikle says she got a call about Kopp’s death two weeks ago from the soldier’s cousin, who’s her close friend. His heart was a perfect match for Meikle.

She says she now has the heart of an Army Ranger who’s a bona fide hero.

Kopp served two tours in Iraq before his tour in Afghanistan as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based in Fort Benning, Ga. He will be buried Friday at Arlington National Cemetery.

The 21-year-old died July 18 after being wounded in battle.

[I generally try not to take an entire article, but think it was warranted here. I’ll make it up to Army Times later by not busting on Rick Maze for a week or so.]

My Mom died unexpectedly the day I joined the army. She had a brain aneurism and struggled for several days, but they just couldn’t save her. I skipped my flight to Benning, called my recruiter and flew home to be with her. As a nurse, my mom was a huge advocate of organ donation, and she donated hers.

I left her funeral and got back on the plane to go to Columbus, GA. Had to talk to about 3 psychs before they would let me back in, but they were cool about it. When someone close dies, they tell you to stay busy. You don’t get much busier than basic training. Anyway, about a month and a half in my dad got a letter about what parts of my mom had been used. It hit me really hard. Not sure why, I just felt so glad my mom could help someone else. Anyway, my battle buddy, the incomparable Mark Seagreaves (if you’re out there) and my Drill Sergeant took me on a road march that night to burn off some of the feelings, and I’ve always appreciated that gesture.

Anyway, it makes me happy to know that this Ranger’s service continued on after he did. Thank you Banjamin Kopp, and RIP bud.

This is where I would plug being a donor, but I am not good at telling folks what they should do. I will only say I hope someone can take advantage of whatever I leave when I go.

EDIT: Not surprisingly, my blogfather beat me to the punch. I could have an Acme rocket strapped to my arse and never be fast enough to beat him.

EDIT x2: And read this from Soldier’s Angels Germany. Powerful.

Category: Politics