Pfc. Stephen C. Benish of Clark, NJ was a 2002 graduate of Arthur L. Johnson High School and received a certificate in electrical technology from the Union County Vocational School in Scotch Plains. Stephen was raised in both Linden and Clark. Before joining the Army, he was employed by Network Electric in Clark. The handsome, blond haired, 6 and a half foot tall former boy scout joined the Army in 2002 because he wanted to serve his country. He was happy being part of a fine group of men and women. Steve believed that, if not for fighting on Iraqi soil, the fighting would be on American soil. He hoped his four years in the Army would help in the future when he planned to apply to be a paid firefighter in the Cranford Fire Department, where he had served as a fire explorer since he was 12 years old becoming a volunteer with the Department when he turned 18. He had many mentors in the fire department and was in his glory to be part of the camaraderie. He saw their hearts broken from all the firefighters lost in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. His medals and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. The young man who spent most of his life in uniform, from Boy Scout to Explorer to volunteer firefighter, was killed by enemy fire while on foot patrol in Ramadi, Iraq at age 20.
Army
1st Battalion
503rd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
2nd Infantry Division
Camp Casey, Korea
Army
1st Battalion
503rd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
2nd Infantry Division
Camp Casey, Korea
Pfc. Stephen C. Benish of Clark, NJ was a 2002 graduate of Arthur L. Johnson High School and received a certificate in electrical technology from the Union County Vocational School in Scotch Plains. Stephen was raised in both Linden and Clark. Before joining the Army, he was employed by Network Electric in Clark. The handsome, blond haired, 6 and a half foot tall former boy scout joined the Army in 2002 because he wanted to serve his country. He was happy being part of a fine group of men and women. Steve believed that, if not for fighting on Iraqi soil, the fighting would be on American soil. He hoped his four years in the Army would help in the future when he planned to apply to be a paid firefighter in the Cranford Fire Department, where he had served as a fire explorer since he was 12 years old becoming a volunteer with the Department when he turned 18. He had many mentors in the fire department and was in his glory to be part of the camaraderie. He saw their hearts broken from all the firefighters lost in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. His medals and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. The young man who spent most of his life in uniform, from Boy Scout to Explorer to volunteer firefighter, was killed by enemy fire while on foot patrol in Ramadi, Iraq at age 20.
Army
1st Battalion
503rd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
2nd Infantry Division
Camp Casey, Korea
Army
1st Battalion
503rd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
2nd Infantry Division
Camp Casey, Korea
Bio by: Elizabeth Reed
