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1LT Benjamin Joseph Colgan

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1LT Benjamin Joseph Colgan

Birth
Seattle, King County, Washington, USA
Death
2 Nov 2003 (aged 30)
Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
Burial
Aurora, Lawrence County, Missouri, USA
Plot
Block 105
Memorial ID
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First Lieutenant Benjamin Joseph Colgan was a devoted husband and father, a loving son and brother, a world-class soldier and a friend to all. Those who knew him could attest to his generous spirit and ever-present smile, a smile that would on occasion turn into a mischievous grin. He'll be remembered as the life of the party and the spark of the family fire. His commanding officer described him as "absolutely fearless" and "the bravest, most decent and selfless man" he's ever known. Colgan died in combat on November 1st when a remote controlled bomb exploded as he was responding to another attack. He was 30 years old. Born in Seattle on February 7, 1973, Colgan, the fourth of eight children, graduated from Mount Rainier High School and immediately joined the army. He spent the next 12 years climbing the ranks of the military, eventually gaining entry into the army's elite Special Operations Group. In March of 2002 Colgan was an honor graduate of Officers Candidate School. He graduated with honors from the Chemical Officer Course in November 2002. He filled the Chemical Officer slot in Giessen, Germany in January 2003. As U.S. military units moved form Kuwait into Iraq, Colgan stepped forward again. "Ben approached us and said please don't leave me in the TOC (headquarters), use my Special Operations skills," recalled his battalion commander, Lt. Colonel William S. Rabena during the eulogy he gave in Baghdad, Iraq November 5th. "Ben gravitated to the toughest mission there was. He took the Survey Platoon and made them one of the U.S. Army's premier raiders. But did it with a calm, gentleman's approach. He was just so good at what he did that you felt safe around him." Colgan is survived by his wife Jill and daughters Grace and Paige, all of Aurora, MO. They lost their only son, Jacob, at birth. Jill Colgan is expecting a baby in December. Other survivors include his father Joseph and mother Patricia of Kent; sisters Gina Johnson (and husband David) of Buckley, Andrea Colgan of Buckley, Elizabeth, Emily, and Teresa Colgan of Kent; and brothers Stephen Colgan of Newcastle, and Nicholas Colgan of Des Moines. Grandmother, Laurene Colgan of Yakima, 9 uncles and aunts, 32 first cousins, and 7 nieces and nephews. A Mass Celebrating Benjamin's Life will be held Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. at Saint Philomena's Catholic Church, 1790 South 222nd St. in Des Moines. The Mass will be followed by a reception and dance at John F. Kennedy High School, 140 South 140th Street in Burien. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be remitted to the Benjamin Colgan Memorial Fund at any Washington Mutual Bank branch.
Published in print on 11/23/2003.
First Lieutenant Benjamin Joseph Colgan was a devoted husband and father, a loving son and brother, a world-class soldier and a friend to all. Those who knew him could attest to his generous spirit and ever-present smile, a smile that would on occasion turn into a mischievous grin. He'll be remembered as the life of the party and the spark of the family fire. His commanding officer described him as "absolutely fearless" and "the bravest, most decent and selfless man" he's ever known. Colgan died in combat on November 1st when a remote controlled bomb exploded as he was responding to another attack. He was 30 years old. Born in Seattle on February 7, 1973, Colgan, the fourth of eight children, graduated from Mount Rainier High School and immediately joined the army. He spent the next 12 years climbing the ranks of the military, eventually gaining entry into the army's elite Special Operations Group. In March of 2002 Colgan was an honor graduate of Officers Candidate School. He graduated with honors from the Chemical Officer Course in November 2002. He filled the Chemical Officer slot in Giessen, Germany in January 2003. As U.S. military units moved form Kuwait into Iraq, Colgan stepped forward again. "Ben approached us and said please don't leave me in the TOC (headquarters), use my Special Operations skills," recalled his battalion commander, Lt. Colonel William S. Rabena during the eulogy he gave in Baghdad, Iraq November 5th. "Ben gravitated to the toughest mission there was. He took the Survey Platoon and made them one of the U.S. Army's premier raiders. But did it with a calm, gentleman's approach. He was just so good at what he did that you felt safe around him." Colgan is survived by his wife Jill and daughters Grace and Paige, all of Aurora, MO. They lost their only son, Jacob, at birth. Jill Colgan is expecting a baby in December. Other survivors include his father Joseph and mother Patricia of Kent; sisters Gina Johnson (and husband David) of Buckley, Andrea Colgan of Buckley, Elizabeth, Emily, and Teresa Colgan of Kent; and brothers Stephen Colgan of Newcastle, and Nicholas Colgan of Des Moines. Grandmother, Laurene Colgan of Yakima, 9 uncles and aunts, 32 first cousins, and 7 nieces and nephews. A Mass Celebrating Benjamin's Life will be held Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. at Saint Philomena's Catholic Church, 1790 South 222nd St. in Des Moines. The Mass will be followed by a reception and dance at John F. Kennedy High School, 140 South 140th Street in Burien. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be remitted to the Benjamin Colgan Memorial Fund at any Washington Mutual Bank branch.
Published in print on 11/23/2003.

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1Lt Benjamin Colgan U.S. Army
Married to Jill Kathleen Asay November 27, 1996
Died November 2, 2003 Baghdad, Iraq
"Operation Iraqi Freedom"

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." Isaiah 6:8

"Committed, dedicated, anonymous- they belong to a tiny fraternity whose common bond is uncommon valor."
"Heroes are those that rise to the occasion. That fulfill the need of the moment, and thank you God, we have people like that"Ben would never have referred to himself as a hero. Rather, "He loved his country and wanted to make a difference in the world, and he gave his life to make a better life for the people of Iraq, and for all Americans."

Ben,
Thank you for seven wonderful years. I will do my best to raise our daughters, Grace, Paige, and Cooper with the same love of life and love of country that you had. We will embark on our journey in a way that I hope will make you proud. We will miss you along the way. I will love and honor you forever.
Jill

"Ben was the bravest, most decent and selfless man I've ever known. He led the platoon on more raids and captured more high profile criminals, explosives and weapons than most battalions have. We marveled at his expertise and calm professional approach. I knew we had someone very special when I first met Ben."
" He spent 12 years in the Special Forces prior to coming to the Gunner Battalion. He was the Honor Graduate of his Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Honor Graduate of his Officers Candidate School class, and Honor Graduate of his Chemical Officers Basic Course. He earned the Gold Medal in the Germany Efficiency Badge, graduated airborne and HALO school, and earned jump wings from both Thailand and Germany. Ben crossed over to the Delta side when he served on the WMD breach team."
"He never spoke of his past, never bragged, and possessed just an air of being the greatest guy you would ever want to know."
"He gravitated to the toughest missions that there were. But he did it with a calm, gentleman's approach. He took the Survey platoon and made them one of the U.S. Army's premier raiders. He was just so good at what he did, that you felt safe around him. Ben single-handedly made so much of a difference in Baghdad in the past 6 months, that in time, the world, not just Iraq, will owe him its gratitude. He knew how important this mission is and gave nothing less than 100%.
We'll always remember him as the quiet, selfless, brave, expert, professional. The greatest guy around. The guy you want living next door to you and your family. This Battalion will continue its mission even more vigilantly than before because of Ben's memory and spirit will always be with us. Ben, you are oour Nation's finest and you've inspired us all to take it to the next level. Rest In Peace."

LTC William S. Rabena
Battalion Commander



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