Our Latest American Hero #25

benjaminjplymouth
Originally uploaded by Randuwa.

Or is he actually #2,500? Our government announced this dubious milestone today.

Army Pvt. Benjamin J. Slaven, 22, of Plymouth, Neb.; assigned to the 308th Transportation Company, Army Reserve, Lincoln, Neb.; died June 9 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Diwaniyah, Iraq.


“Soldier From Plymouth Dies In Roadside Bombing In Iraq”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Benjamin Slaven's family has a long history of military service, and his father said his son knew the risks of going to Iraq.

Bruce Slaven says Benjamin was enthusiastic about working on the front line of the war on terror as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves.

On Friday, just short of three months into his tour of Iraq, Pfc. Benjamin Slaven was killed after a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee in Ad Diwaniyah, Army Reserves spokesman Col. John Bryan said Monday.

Slaven had gone to Iraq with the Lincoln-based 308th Transportation Co. He was the first Nebraska member of the Army Reserves and 30th U.S. service member with Nebraska ties to be killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since the beginning of military operations following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The 22-year-old from Plymouth was the fourth Nebraska serviceman killed in the last month.

Lance Cpl. Brent Zoucha, 19, of Clarks, also died Friday in an explosion in Iraq.

Army Pvt. Tim J. Madison, 28, of Bellevue, 28, was killed Thursday at Fort Carson, Colo., when a machine gun accidentally fired.

Army Sgt. Lonnie Calvin Allen Jr., 26, of Bellevue, died May 18 in a roadside bombing in Iraq.

Bruce Slaven said he and Benjamin's mother, Judy Huenink, both served in the Air Force. Benjamin's sister, Pfc. Misty Slaven, is training to be a medical lab technician and is based at Fort Bliss, Ky. A grandfather and uncle also served, Bruce Slaven said.

"He chose to go into the Army, and I supported his decision 150 percent," Bruce Slaven said. "We were talking once, and he said he was looking forward to going to Iraq if his unit was called up. I told him if he wants to go to Iraq, ŒSaddle up and let's rock.'

"Obviously, I'm proud that he did what he did and served his country and did the mission he was asked to do."

Prior to joining the Reserves 17 months ago, Benjamin Slaven earned his GED and worked at a lawn mower factory, Exmark Manufacturing in Beatrice.

His parents said he was generous and caring.

"He was always giving, and he didn't expect anything back," Judy Huenink said. "He'd give a person his last $20 even if that meant he had to go without something else."

"He wanted to do his part," Huenink said. "He wanted to defend his country."

Slaven enjoyed video games, scuba diving, motorcycles, working on cars and fishing, family members said. He was considering a career in underwater welding after the military, Huenink said.

"He would make any mother proud," she said.