Army Spc. Benjamin W. Isenberg

Died September 13, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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27, of Sheridan, Ore.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, Oregon Army National Guard, Corvallis, Ore.; killed Sept. 13 when his military vehicle came under attack by small-arms fire and an improvised explosive device in Taji, Iraq.

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In one of his last e-mails home, Benjamin W. Isenberg said his 16-hour workdays were long and hot. "This could be a nice place, but I prefer high mountains and tall pine trees," he said. Isenberg, 27, of Sheridan, Ore., died Sept. 13 near Taji when his vehicle was attacked. He was stationed at Corvallis. Isenberg joined the Oregon National Guard in 1995 and graduated from Western Oregon University in 2000. An employee of the Oregon Forestry Department, he was involved in fighting forest fires and doing conservation work. "He had an impact on more people than we will ever know," said co-worker Patrick Cliner. "He was a gentle and caring person. He enjoyed doing presentations at schools, so he could ham it up with the kids." Pastor Darwin Grimm said Isenberg was so popular in the community, he was deluged with calls asking if any help was needed with a memorial service. "People called me by the dozens," he said. "In my 54 years with the church, I've never seen anything better than this." Isenberg is survived by his wife, Rachel, and sons Jeremiah, 4, and Kraig, 2.

— Associated Press