July 18, 2009

HOMETOWN: Rosemount, Minnesota

​

ENTERED SERVICE: 2006

 

UNITS:  C Co., 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment

 

MILITARY TRAINING: Army Achievement Medal with two
awards, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service
Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge and the
Ranger Tab. Posthumously, Ben has been awarded the Bronze
Star with Valor, The Meritorious Service Medal and a Purple
Heart. 

 

DEPLOYMENTS: Iraq x 2, Afghanistan

 

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS: Army Achievement Medal
with two awards, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense
Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism
Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge
and the Ranger Tab. Posthumously, Ben has been awarded the
Bronze Star with Valor, The Meritorious Service Medal and a
Purple Heart.

 

SURVIVED BY: He is survived by his mother Jill Stephenson,
father Duane Kopp, maternal grandfather Jon Burud, maternal
grandmother Mary (Ray) Barnes, paternal grandmother Donna
(and the late Paul) Kopp, special great-grand-mother Marian
Rogers, Brothers-In-Arms of the 75th Ranger Regiment of the
United States Army, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and
many loving friends
.

On July 10, 2009 CPL Ben Kopps Ranger unit had attacked into a Taliban safe haven where they fought a determined enemy from multiple directions for several hours, resulting in the killing of more than 10 Taliban fighters. CPL Kopp saved 6 of his teammates when he was shot in the leg. He was flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington where he passed away on July 18, 2009 from wounds sustained during the attack.