Blackfive has a citation for Marine Sergeant Benjamin Edinger who was killed in Iraq recently. Being a Marine myself I could not pass up the opportunity to put this on my blog for the few who read it. This Marine deserves it.
Although a computer technician by trade, Sergeant Edinger was recruited to come to 2d platoon as a radio operator after his noteworthy service with 2d Force Reconnaissance Company, Task Force Tarawa during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He immediately made an impact on his team by mastering the difficult communication systems required of his job and applying this mastery during a shortened unit training phase and MEU Pre-Deployment Training Phase. His mastery of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force SIDS (MSIDS) data system allowed his team to provide Reconnaissance and Surveillance to 2d Bn, 5th Special Forces Group during their pre-deployment training for OIF II, thus marking a new relationship between these two units.
Upon deployment to Iraq for OIF II, Sergeant Edinger was designated a heavy machine gunner for his team due to the expertise he displayed on the weapon system during pre-deployment training. In 11 engagements with the enemy, Sergeant Edinger demonstrated his acumen with the machine gun by providing accurate, suppressive fires when warranted. His personal discipline was on display most in this capacity, as he never failed to cover his sectors of fire and provide security for his team. During a combined direct action raid with Hillah SWAT in the town of Lutafiyah, Northern Babil province, on 11 October, Sergeant Edinger’s team was attacked with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along Alternate Supply Route (ASR) Jackson, and then immediately engaged with small arms fire from an adjacent palm grove. Sergeant Edinger provided accurate suppressive fires on the enemy, allowing the platoon corpsman to render medical attention to a wounded Marine, and the rest of the platoon to sweep through in the direction of the enemy. As a result of these suppressive fires, the platoon was able to close with and destroy the trigger man and an enemy observer and thus disable the threat and exfiltrate the contact area.
During a combined direct action raid with Hillah SWAT in Haswah, Northern Babil province, Sergeant Edinger’s team was again the subject of a complex enemy attack. While providing security for the raid force, Sergeant Edinger’s stack was attacked with an IED mixed with homemade napalm, and small arms fire from two men in a truck in the area. Sergeant Edinger along with his team returned fire, destroying the truck and the two terrorists inside. His immediate action, and the actions of the Marines around him, allowed the platoon to continue their raid unabated. During the same raid, Sergeant Edinger again showed significant physical courage, when his position was probed by a white Bongo truck forced into the area by the local terrorists. A red Opal followed the truck as it charged through Bravo Stack’s trigger lines, and gained speed even after warned. Suspecting the truck to be a Vehicle Borne IED, Sergeant Edinger and his team engaged the truck, halting it’s advance. Due in large parts to his diligence, seven enemy detainees were captured.
On 14 November, during a mission to extract from an Observation Post (OP), Sergeant Edinger’s team was again engaged by an IED ambush. Although mortally wounded, Sergeant Edinger continued to man his gun, fighting for air, until he was relieved of it in order to receive medical attention. Sergeant Edinger was an inspiration to those around him with his physical courage, buoyant fighting spirit, and “never quit” attitude. He will be sorely missed by his platoon, and the Reconnaissance Brotherhood.
EYEWITNESS STATEMENTS
Above summary of action reflects eyewitness account of Capt. T.A. Douglas
The above statement is true to the best of my recollection. Sgt. Edinger was an outstanding young Marine who’s toughness and physical courage will be sorely missed. GySgt. BR Reid
RECOMMENDED CITATION:
Heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy as Radio Operator and Machine Gunner, Force Reconnaissance Platoon, Maritime Special Purpose Force, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Marine Division in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II from 15 July to 14 November 2004. During this period, Sergeant Edinger demonstrated exceptional personal courage over the course of 61 combat missions, which included 41 direct action precision raids. He aquitted himself with coolness and clarity under fire in each engagement. On 11 October, during a combined direct action raid with Hillah SWAT in Lutifiyah located in the Northern Babil Province, Sergeant Edinger’s team was attacked with an improvised explosive device along alternate supply route Jackson, and then immediately engaged with small arms fire from an adjacent palm grove. He provided accurate suppressive fires on the enemy, allowing the wounded to receive medical care, and a sweep conducted which fatally wounded the triggerman and observer. This is just one example of his overall performance throughout this period as he served as an example for seniors and subordinates to emulate from. By his zealous initiative, courageous actions and exceptional dedication to duty Sergeant Edinger reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Combat distinguishing device is authorized.
There is also a article in his hometown paper here
“Edinger, a 1999 Green Bay West High School graduate, had been improving after being wounded by a makeshift bomb , said Gerald Downey, Edinger?s maternal grandfather.
?He was taken off of life support the day before he died,? Downey said. ?His stepfather was seated next to him and suddenly he began to bleed (internally). Something broke open and he died.
?It was a great surprise to the medical people. He seemed to be doing so well.?
Downey said this was Edinger?s second tour in Iraq. Edinger was in Iraq for the initial invasion in March 2003 and returned to the United States before returning for a second stint with the Marines? 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company.
Edinger?s mother, Rose Scannell, and his stepfather, Randy Scannell, were in Maryland with their son for several days and arrived back at their Green Bay home late Tuesday and declined to talk with a reporter.
Edinger has an older brother, Jim Edinger, 26. Benjamin was the fifth person from Northeastern Wisconsin to die from injuries received in Iraq this year.
After high school, Edinger spent a year at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh before deciding to enlist. He had considered a career as a veterinarian after the Marine Corps.
Edinger served with the Marines in Okinawa as a member of the 3rd Force Service Support Group early in his military career. He was with the unit during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Shortly after the attacks, Rose Scannell, in an article in the Green Bay Press-Gazette, said her son knew he was in harm?s way, even in Japan. Teaching in Pakistan at the time, Scannell traded worry-laden e-mails with her son. They were worried about him; he was worried about them.
?Then I had to think about how, going into the service, you say you may give your life to serve your country,? Rose Scannell said. ?I thought ?That?s his choice to do this.??
Friends said Edinger wasn?t always the leader in a group ? some even said he was quiet ? but his strengths shined on their own.
?He?s a good guy,? said Nick Titel, 23, Edinger?s stepcousin and high school pal. ?We had a lot of fun times together.
?He was real witty. A lot of people underestimated him for how smart he really was.?
Titel said Edinger excelled in math. He was a computer specialist while serving in Okinawa.
?Our senior year, he took algebra because he wanted to take another math class and he had taken all the other math classes in school ? even calculus,? Titel said. ?He ended up taking algebra because he had never taken algebra.
?So he went into the algebra class, basically a senior with all these freshmen, and he was helping the teacher and helped all these freshmen.?
Titel said Edinger was a straight-forward kind of guy, a trait amplified by the Marines.
?He was a very honest person,? Titel said. ?He was straightforward with you. … He was always to the point. If he said something, that?s what he meant. There was no second guessing with him.
?A totally genuine person.?
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