My real-life friend (Jules) and my virtual friend (GiBee) have joined forces with some other remarkable ladies and set up a web site that honors our fallen soldiers. The goal, as stated on the Some Gave All web site, is as follows:
It is our goal to remember each and every American soldier, sailor, airman or marine who has given their life for the cause of freedom since September 11, 2001 with a personal tribute.
My understanding is that they are trying to accomplish this by Labor Day. That's over 2500 personal tributes in about two months. This is a tall order, but if you go to their site and request to participate you can help them reach this goal. These men and women deserve to be remembered. I hope you decide to participate.
In Remembrance of Benjamin Johnson
Benjamin Johnson was an Electronics Technician 3rd Class, Navy. He died on November 18, 2001--early in our War on Terror. This is his story.
Johnson was part of an eight-man team from the USS Peterson that boarded a tanker suspected of illegally smuggling Iraqi oil. His team was enforcing sanctions put in place by the U.N. after the Persian Gulf War. The Navy had been doing these sorts of inspections for over 10 years without a fatality. That changed on November 18, 2001.
The tanker Benjamin boarded was 40 years old, in disrepair, and was meant to carry only general cargo. Instead it was carrying approximately 1900 tons of oil (about 200 tons more than it was built to carry in general cargo). Soon after his team boarded, the tanker sank.
Although Benjamin's "home of record" was Rochester, NY, he and his wife were living in Virginia Beach, VA. He had been in the Navy just over three years.
Thank you, Benjamin Johnson, for doing your duty. You boarded that ship with a purpose and could never have known what would happen next. I remember you, I thank you, and I am in debt to you. My thoughts are with your wife and your family. I am proud of you.
Comments of his friends and family can be found here.
The article where I found most of this information is here.
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