VIDEO/PHOTOS: Ben Kopp Remembered
Watch video of speeches by Army Rangers from Cpl. Benjamin Stephen Kopp’s platoon. Kopp, of Rosemount, died July 18, 2009, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., from wounds suffered on July 10 in Afghanistan. A memorial service was held for Kopp at Rosemount High School Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. Video by Jeff Achen. Photos by Jessica Harper.
by Jessica Harper
Thisweek Newspapers
U.S. Army Cpl. Ben Kopp will always be remembered as a generous and loyal friend by those who knew him best.
Comrades, family, and members of the community nearly filled the Rosemount High School gym Aug. 1 to pay their respects to their hero.
“He was the best friend I could ever know,” said Army Spc. Ryan Lundeby, who was with Kopp the day he was injured in Afghanistan.
Kopp, a 21-year-old Rosemount resident, was on his third deployment when his unit was attacked by insurgents.
“When Ben was first injured, I couldn’t stop crying,” Lundeby said. “I didn’t know what to say.”
Lundeby said the last time he spoke with Kopp he told him he was proud of him and that he was his hero.
“He gave his life to save the life of others,” Lundeby said.
Kopp was evacuated to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he died eight days later as a result of his wounds.
Spec. Eric Ninnis was by Kopp’s side during those final moments.
Ninnis and Kopp both attended Fort Benning, Ga., airborne course, and the two became good friends after being assigned to the Company C, 3rd
Batallion 75th Ranger Regiment.
“I felt like I knew him my whole life,” Ninnis said. “Ben had my back and I had his.”
When they weren’t on the base, the two often visited Florida.
“It was our home away from home,” Ninnis said.
Ninnis recalled one instance when they went fishing only to catch an 8-foot alligator.
After putting the alligator back, they moved a few feet out and Kopp decided to dive in.
“Afterwards he said, ‘That was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done,’ ” Ninnis said with a chuckle.
Eric Pittelkow of Rosemount also remembered Kopp as a fun-loving guy.
The two men became friends in ninth grade and stayed close after Kopp joined the military.
“Parties were always better with Ben,” Pittelkow said. “He was the type of friend you could always count on.”
Kopp enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after graduating from Rosemount High School in 2006.
He became a U.S. Army Ranger rifleman in 2007.
During his time as a Ranger, Kopp earned various medals including the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Parachutist badge.
After his death, he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal of Valor, a Purple Heart and a Meritorious Service Medal.
In addtion to sacrificing his life for his country and fellow Rangers, Kopp saved the life of a 57-year-old woman who received his donated heart.
Kopp was the only child of Jill Stephenson of Rosemount and Duane Kopp of Minnetonka.
E-mail Jessica Harper at: jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com
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