Schmidt, Benjamin Whetstone
Male
Verified Lance Cpl. Benjamin Whetstone Schmidt, 24, of San Antonio, Texas, was a U.S. Marine with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, California. He died on October 6, 2011, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Benjamin W. Schmidt was a rifleman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). His unit, part of the 1st Marine Division from Camp Pendleton, California, was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
On October 6, 2011, Schmidt was on patrol in the volatile Helmand province, a region where U.S. and allied forces conducted extensive counterinsurgency operations. According to the Department of Defense, he was killed by enemy small-arms fire during a dismounted patrol.
Schmidt was 24 years old at the time of his death. He was a native of San Antonio, Texas. His battalion had previously deployed to locations including the Philippines and the Horn of Africa as part of its service history.
The Department of Defense officially announced his death on October 7, 2011. He was one of thousands of U.S. service members who lost their lives during the 13-year conflict in Afghanistan.
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, began in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. The combat mission for U.S. forces formally concluded in December 2014.
Explore Further
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led combat mission in Afghanistan, concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
