R.I.P. Spc. Benjamin D. Osborn

Army Spc. Benjamin D. Osborn
Died June 15, 2010 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom

27, of Queensbury, N.Y.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died June 15 in Shigalwashheltan district, Konar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades.

(The following was taken from poststar.com of June 21, 2010) LAKE GEORGE -- Spc. Benjamin D. Osborn, 27, passed on Tuesday, June 15, 2010, in Konar Province, Afghanistan, while serving with the U.S. Army.

Born in Glens Falls Hospital, Jan. 21, 1983, he was the son of William D. and Beverly (Burnham) Osborn.

Benjamin served with the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky., rank SPC 4. He was in active duty from April 2007 to June 2010, in Theatres of Operation in Iraq and Afghanistan. The following are some of the medals and honors that were received: Iraq Freedom Medal, Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

On Feb. 6, 2010, he married the love of his life, Nicole LaPier, in Queensbury. He was a caring, loving and passionate husband, who adored his wife and looked forward to their future.

Ben received his first trophy at the age of seven, when he competed amongst 11 boys in a tumbling routine. He received first place. This was the beginning of many, many sports trophies. He received the senior athletic award and played varsity football for four years, varsity baseball for two years, JV baseball for two years, JV basketball for two years and was a member of the varsity ski team for one year. He still holds the record at Lake George High School for career tackles in football, accomplished in two and a half years. Along with his sports, he was involved in the Sister Cities Exchange Program and Odyssey of the Mind.

Ben will be remembered for his sense of humor, his appetite, loyalty, dedication, love of his family, brotherhood, friends and Lake George. He was a hero to so many in life and will be remembered as a hero to all in death. Ben will always be remembered for his ready smile, his sense of fun and adventure. His readiness to help others any time for anything. His willingness to stand up for his friends while always ready to get on the floor to play with the young. Such a genuine person who always respected all he encountered. Ben found true happiness and contentment in his recent marriage to his beloved Nicole. He was now complete and ready to face the future. Ben was such a loved and compassionate person, yet he fully subscribed to the creed of effort. "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and he's exhausted on the field of battle, victorious." (Vince Lombardi) Ben gave his all for the mission at hand. We love you, Ben.

His grandfather, Richard G. Burnham, predeceased him, a four-year Army World War II veteran, along with his grandfather, Leonard W. Osborn, and grandmother, Marion G. Osborn.

Survivors include his wife, Nicole J. (LaPier) Osborn; his parents, William and Beverly Osborn of Lake George; his brothers, Christopher Gill and fiance Shana Rivera of Charlotte, N.C., William B. and his wife Amanda Osborn of Covington, Ga., Jeffrey S. and his wife Elizabeth Osborn of Centerville, Va.; his sister, Bethany L. Osborn and fiance Travis Birkholz of Warrensburg; his grandmother, Vera Burnham of Middle Granville, N.Y.; in-laws, Tom and Emily (Winslow) LaPier of Queensbury and Fred and Lisa Bartlett of South Glens Falls; brother-in-law, Fred Bartlett Jr. of South Glens Falls; sisters-in-law, Kara Winslow of Queensbury, Jessica Winslow and fiancé, Jason LeBlanc, of Queensbury; nephews, Daniel Jacobs of Covington, Ga., David Osborn of Covington, Ga., Mathew Osborn of Covington, Ga.; his niece, Anna Osborn of Covington, Ga.; his nephew, Austin Osborn of Centerville, Va.; his aunt, Roberta J. Burnham of Houston, Texas, Army retired Sergeant Major; his cousins, Marc Cristaldi of South Glens Falls, 11-year Army veteran, Trista Blyther of Laurel, Md., six-year Army- currently RN at Walter Reid Hospital/critical care unit, and so many loving aunts, uncles and cousins, along with two new nieces to be officially part of the family at his sister's wedding July 10, 2010, Katie and Kiersten Birkholz.

Relatives and friends may call Wednesday, June 23, 2010, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Regan & Denny Funeral Home, 53 Quaker Road, Queensbury.

Funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 24, 2010, at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Road, Schuylerville, N.Y.

Those who wish may send a remembrance in his name to The Ben Osborn Memorial Fund. This fund has been established at Glens Falls National Bank and the family ask that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to help disadvantaged student-athletes.

Ben's pallbearers are representing those men who currently served with Ben in Afghanistan: Ofren Arrechaga, Steven Hunsicker, Chris Williams, Daniel Kelly, Brian Ham and Paul Nacin.

For those who wish, online condolences maybe sent to www.scott-barbieri.com.