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God's will be done and may He have mercy upon us all.

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A Catholic who follows Rome & the Magisterium. I'm against gay "marriage", abortion, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia, human cloning. Altar girls, Communion in the hand, Eucharistic Ministers and "Protestant" music in the Church doesn't bother me at all. A proud American retired submarine sailor. Our borders should be secured with a 10 ft. high fence topped by concertina wire with minefields out to 20 yards on both sides and an additional 10 yards filled with warning signs outside of that Let's get energy independent NOW! Back Israel to the max, stop appeasing followers of the Pedophile Prophet. Pro 2nd Amendment, pro death penalty, Repeal all hate crime legislation. Back the police unless you'd rather call a hippie when everything hits the fan. Get government out of dealing with education, childhood obesity and the enviornment. Stop using the military for sociological experiments and if we're in a war don't micromanage their every move. Kill your television, limit time on the computer and pick up a book. God's will be done and may He have mercy upon us all.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

R.I.P. Airman 1st Class Austin H. Gates Benson




Air Force Airman 1st Class Austin H. Gates Benson
Died May 03, 2010 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom

19, of Hellertown, Pa.; assigned to the 54th Combat Communications Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.; died May 3 near Khyber, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat-related incident.

(The following was taken from blog.lehighvalleylive.com of May 4, 2010) Joie Gates' bags sat on the living room floor of her Hellertown home this afternoon as she waited for U.S. Air Force airmen to pick her up and drive her to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

Gates' son, Austin H. Gates Benson, 19, an airman first class, died in Afghanistan Monday from injuries suffered during a noncombat incident, according to the Department of Defense. Air Force officials said no further details were available.

His casket arrives tonight in Dover, Gates said.

"Every child is a loss, and I can't say mine is a greater loss than anyone else's," Gates said, "but I never expected it. He will be sorely missed."

Gates Benson graduated from Saucon Valley High School in June 2008 and left for basic training a month later. He was assigned to a combat communications unit, Gates said, in the Khyber Pass at a place called Torkham along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

It was his first tour of duty, Gates said, and he volunteered for the assignment.
"He was really proud to serve his country," Gates said.

Three airmen arrived at her home Monday, Gates said, and were directed to the car dealership where she works in Flemington. She said watching the men come in through the door was every bit as awful and heart wrenching as it is depicted in movies.

"They aren't there to tell you how great they think your son is," Gates said.

Former Saucon Valley High School principal Todd Gombos said Gates Benson was an independent thinker, an advocate for others and just a good kid.

"He was the kind of man who was going to do things," Gombos said. "He was going to make his own path in life."

Gates last spoke to her son in late April and he told her that he felt humbled by his interactions with Afghans, many of whom live in abject poverty.

"He said, 'Mom, I will come back and always be grateful for everything we have because these people have nothing,'" she said.

Gates said arrangements are being made with a Hellertown funeral home to hold a memorial service, but details were not finalized.

1 comment:

Lee Benson said...

I am Also Currently in Afghanistan, I went to Pre Deployment training at Fort Dix with this Airman, We stayed in the Same Room, ate and trained together, He was one of my best friends, Even tho we just met 1 month before deploying, God Bless him and his Family, I am truly sorry for your loss

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