COLVILLE, WA, USA U.S. Army CW2, TROOP B, 6TH SQUADRON, 6TH CAVALRY, FORT DRUM, NY KIRKUK, IRAQ 01/26/2009
CW2 Benjamin Harris Todd, a past resident of Colville, Washington, passed away while serving his country on January 26, 2009 in Kirkuk, Iraq. Ben was born October 4, 1979 in Colville, the son of Alan B. Wiley and Marti Todd.
Ben enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 22, 1999 and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia serving two tours in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. He was then selected to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker, Alabama. There he began his helicopter pilot training. Upon graduation Ben was stationed at Fort Drum, New York where he flew the OH-58 Kiowa helicopter with Bravo Troop “Pale Riders”, 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, of the 10th Mountain Division. Ben was deployed to serve overseas in Operation Iraqi Freedom on October 20, 2008. While deployed he was involved in a helicopter crash in which he lost his life.
Ben lived in Orient, WA until the age of ten when his family moved to Colville and where he completed his education in 1997. While home on leave in 2004, he met Shelly Gordon at a New Year’s Eve Party. Their budding love led to a four-month courtship and marriage on April 29, 2005 at the V.F.W. Legion Hall in Colville followed by a honeymoon in Disney World. Following his June 2007 graduation from flight school the couple moved to Carthage, NY. Ben and Shelly enjoyed time with their dogs and sharing Friday “date nights” with dinner and a movie. Their love blessed them with a daughter Ashlyn Joy in April of 2008.
Ben loved to ride dirt motorcycles and four-wheelers. He found his first inspiration in helicopter flight school, his first love with his wife, and his greatest love with his family at the birth of his daughter Ashlyn. He was a young man defined by his loyalty to God, family and country. He is a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, grandson, friend and hero who will be greatly missed.
Ben is survived by his wife Shelly Todd and their daughter Ashlyn both of Colville, Washington; mother, Marti Todd, Colville; father, Alan Wiley, Orient, WA; brother Nick Todd and wife Betty, Princeton, KY and their son Noah; brother Daniel Todd, Taiwan; grandmother Joyce Todd-McPhee, Colville; uncles Bob Todd, Colville, Tom Todd and wife Patti, Colville, Jim Todd and wife Linda, Hawaii; step-aunt, Heather Ruskievicz and husband Steve, Colville; parents-in-law John and June Gordon, Colville; siblings-in-law Shannon Gordon, Colville, Lance Gordon and wife Laurie, Montesano, WA, Kelly Gordon and wife, Rebecca, Kettle Falls, Sharon Schneider and husband, Michael, Otis Orchards; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins; and trusted family dog, Cheyenne
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