Ben Osborn inducted into Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame

Lake George native, Corporal Ben Osborn, was inducted into the New York State Veterans’ Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Albany on Tuesday, May 19.  State Senator Betty Little nominated Osborn, who was one of two veterans posthumously recognized.

Osborn was 27 when he died on June 15, 2010, during combat in Shigalwashheltan district, Konar, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires.

“Ben is the first veteran I have nominated for Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame who was killed in action,” said Senator Little.  “Words can’t convey my sense of gratitude for Ben’s service.  With Memorial Day coming up, I hope all of us will take time to think about and pay tribute to those, like Ben, who paid the ultimate price in service to our nation and to their families and friends for their immense loss.”

The youngest of Bill and Beverly Osborn’s five children, CPL Osborn enlisted in the U.S. Army’s Combat Infantry in April 2007.  Osborn’s desire to serve his country was evident when as, a 4^th grader, he was very interested in Operation Desert Storm during the Iraq War and then as a teenager when the tragic events of September 11^th unfolded.

After graduation from basic training, he was stationed in Vilseck, Germany and, from there, deployed to Iraq with the 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment.  After his 15-month deployment to Iraq with the Stryker regiment, which he greatly admired, he returned to Vilseck and trained hard to score admittance to the Army's elite Ranger program, but an emergency appendectomy and recovery negated his timely return to the states.

In August of 2009, his home base was Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). His second deployment with this Division April 2010 was to Afghanistan.

SPC Osborn earned many medals and awards from 2007 to 2010, including the Combat Infantryman Badge, The Expert Markmanship medal, Army Commemorative medal, Army Achievement medal, Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service medal, Afghanistan Campain medal, Iraq Campain medal, Global War on Terror Service medal, Army Service ribbon, Overseas Service ribbon, NATO medal, Driver and Mechanic badge, Weapons Qualification M4 Expert, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Army Valorous Unit award, and Army Meritorious Unit award.

Army SPC Osborn was promoted to CPL Benjamin D Osborn posthumously after paperwork started in May for the promotion was completed and  his final awards were The Bronze Star and The Purple Heart.

The Ben Osborn Memorial Fund was created in loving memory of CPL Benjamin D. Osborn, carrying forward the positive impact Ben made in the lives of others. The fund helps "give kids a little lift" in honor of Ben's memory.  The fund assists 32 schools in eleven school districts with items such as: school supplies, clothing, bedding, eye and healthcare, educational tuition, electronics, and much more.

The memorial fund also supports Christmas initiatives for children, families, and charitiable organizations and awards two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors from each participating schools. The fund also donates food, personal and health care items to ten local food pantries and its literacy initiative provides reading books available to children through Ben's Book Stations.

To learn more about the Memorial Fund or to make a donation, please call 792-4514 or visit www.benosbornfund.org.

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