Benjamin Wise

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin B. Wise, age 34, of Little Rock, Arkansas, died on January 15, 2012, in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained on January 9, 2012, in Balkh province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire. 

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. 

Benjamin graduated from West Side Christian High School in 1995 and entered the United States Army in November 2000 as an infantryman. Upon completion of Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 2001, he was assigned to the 520th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis- McChord where he deployed to Iraq as a member of the Battalion Scout Platoon from 2003-2004. In 2005, he volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and was selected to continue training as medical sergeant in the Special Forces Qualification Course. After graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2008, he was assigned to 3rd Bn, 1st SFG (A). During his time with the unit, he deployed once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan.

Father, place Ben on the
stairway to Heaven

Ben's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), the Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, the Afghan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd award), the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

Family members stated that Ben was proud of his service in the military. They describe him as a loving husband, a devoted father, a caring son and a selfless soldier.

Benjamin is the second son of this family to die in the war in Afghanistan. His brother, Jeremy, died in December of 2009. 

Benjamin is survived by many loving friends and relatives including his parents, Dr. Jean and Mary Wise; his wife, Traci; his sons Luke and Ryan; and his daughter Kailen; as well as a sister and a younger brother.

Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that Benjamin Wise is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen