CPL Benjamin S. Kopp, a U.S. Army Ranger, was seriously wounded on 10 July 2009 while on a combat operation with the Rangers in Afghanistan. He was medically evacuated through Germany to Walter Reed, where he died of his wounds on 18 July 2009.
Ben was on his third combat rotation, second to Afghanistan, with one rotation already to Iraq. During this combat operation, CPL Kopp was credited with saving the lives of six of his fellow Rangers. His heroism on the battlefield and in life didn’t end there.
His life continued as CPL Kopp was an organ donor. His organs, bone, skin, and tissue not only benefited the lives of more than 60 individuals but also saved the lives of four Americans, including a patient (Judy) that received Ben’s heart.
On 12 July 2022, Ben’s mom, Jill, participated in of our annual Three Rangers Foundation Honor and Remember event. In an emotional ceremony on the summit, Jill hung Ben’s dog tag on the Honor Tower.
This week, on 10 March 2025, it was shared that Judy had passed away from complications unrelated to Ben’s heart. It was devastating news; Ben’s heart had stopped 15 years after leaving his body.
I asked Jill if it was okay if we dedicated our planned climb yesterday to Ben; she proudly said yes. She asked that during our climb to be on the lookout for a sign, anything. Sure enough, there were two distinct signs on the mountain yesterday. The first happened in Phase II when two ravens right above us were circling our group, chatting it up with the deep, gurgling croak sounds they make. We thought, there’s our sign, that’s Ben and Judy.
On the summit, just as we were beginning our descent, a large adult bald eagle low-leveled our position right across the south side of the summit, so beautifully and majestically soaring with its massive wings fully extended, we yelled, there’s another sign, it was Ben.
We carried a flag and flew it on the summit in his honor and hung a second dog tag right next to the tag Jill placed there almost three years ago.
The heart of this young Ranger is resting now, but his memory and the memory of his heart live on.
Say his name:
KOPP
BENJAMIN S.
18 Jul 2009
10 Mar 2025
Army Ranger, OEF
We Shall Never Forget!
