2005 Senate Joint Resolution 13
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and military service of Marine Sergeant Benjamin C. Edinger.
Whereas, Marine Sergeant Benjamin C. Edinger was born on October 15, 1980, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and died November 23, 2004, at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, of injuries sustained November 14, 2004, from enemy action in Lutafiyah Babil Province, Iraq; and
Whereas, Sergeant Edinger served with distinction in the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as well as the 3rd Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan, where he was a small-computer systems specialist with the Headquarters and Service Battalion, and was in his 2nd tour of duty in Iraq after taking part in the initial invasion in March 2003; and
Whereas, Sergeant Edinger was a 1999 graduate of Green Bay West High School, and he enlisted in the marine corps in 2000 after a year at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; and
Whereas, Sergeant Edinger enjoyed rugby, camping, fishing, and weightlifting; and
Whereas, Sergeant Edinger was to be discharged from the marines early next year and had planned to enroll at the University of Wisconsin next fall to study veterinary science and hoped to be a walk-on football player; and
Whereas, Sergeant Edinger was a skilled gunner so dedicated to protecting his fellow marines that during the battle on November 14, 2004, he had to be pried away from his gun to receive medical treatment despite being mortally wounded; and
Whereas, Sergeant Edinger was awarded a Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Bronze Star with Distinguishing Device; and
Whereas, Sergeant Edinger's family is very proud of him and knows that he died doing what he wanted to do: serve the nation and fight for freedom; and
Whereas, Sergeant Edinger embodied the United States Marine Corps core values of honor, courage, and commitment, and he will be sorely missed; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the
senate, the assembly concurring, That the legislature of the state of Wisconsin commemorates the remarkable life of Marine Sergeant Benjamin C. Edinger and extends its deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues; and, be it further
Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall transmit a copy of this joint resolution to Sergeant Edinger's mother and stepfather, Rosanna and Randy Scannell, of Green Bay, Wisconsin; his father, Montfort Edinger, and his wife Deanne Edinger, of Plano, Illinois; his brother, James Edinger, of Madison, Wisconsin; his grandparents Gerald and Barbara Downey, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and James and Helen Edinger, of Townsend, Wisconsin, and Clearwater, Florida; his stepgrandmother Deleana Scannell, of Green Bay, Wisconsin; and his greatgrandmother, Marie Berg, of Gladstone, Michigan.
