[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 299]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          IN HONOR OF ARMY SERGEANT FIRST CLASS BENJAMIN WISE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 24, 2012

  Mr. ROSS of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated 
soldier and true American hero who died in service to this great 
country. On January 15, 2012, U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Benjamin 
B. Wise, who was 34 years old, died at Landstuhl Regional Medical 
Center in Landstuhl, Germany, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 
Sergeant First Class Wise died of injuries sustained on January 9, 
2012, in Balkh Province, Afghanistan, from small arms fire.
  SFC Benjamin Wise graduated from West Side Christian High School in 
El Dorado, Ark., in 1995 and eventually joined the United States Armed 
Forces in 2000, where he began a distinguished military career. At the 
time of his death, SFC Wise was on his fourth deployment overseas--once 
in Iraq and three times to Afghanistan--and was assigned to A Company, 
3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, 
Washington.
  SFC Wise was an outstanding soldier and, according to his family, 
incredibly proud of the career he built in the Army. During his 11 
years as a soldier, SFC Wise earned three Army Commendation Medals; 
three Army Good Conduct Medals; the National Defense Service Medal; two 
Afghanistan Campaign Medals with Bronze Service Stars; three Iraq 
Campaign Medals with Bronze Service Stars; the Global War on Terrorism 
Service Medal; two Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development 
Ribbons; the Army Service Ribbon; two Overseas Service Ribbons; the 
NATO Medal; the Parachustist Badge, Basic; the Combat Infantryman 
Badge; the Expert Infantry Badge; the Combat and Special Skill Badge, 
Basic Marksmanship Qual Badge; the Canadian Parachutist Badge; the 
Special Forces Tab; and four Overseas Service Bars.
  SFC Wise was also posthumously awarded two Bronze Star Medals for his 
bravery in battle and a Purple Heart for giving his life in service to 
his country.
  As a well-respected leader, SFC Wise was an outstanding soldier who 
served his country well and proudly wore the uniform of the United 
States of America. He represented the best of our Armed Forces and the 
best of America--giving his life to protect the freedoms we all 
cherish. As a husband, father, son and brother, his loss will leave an 
incredible void that will be impossible to fill. My thoughts and 
prayers are with his wife, Traci; his children, Kallen, Luke and Ryan; 
his parents, Dr. Jean and Mary Wise; his brother, Marine Corps Cpl. 
Matthew Wise; his sister, Mary; and, the rest of his family and friends 
during this very difficult time.
  Unfortunately, what made SFC Wise's death even more tragic is that 
just two short years ago, the Wise family also lost another son in 
Afghanistan--Jeremy Wise, who was SFC Benjamin Wise's brother. Former 
Navy SEAL Special Warfare Operator First Class Jeremy Wise, age 35, was 
part of the CIA's security detail at an outpost near Khost, 
Afghanistan, when he was killed on December 30, 2009, when a terrorist 
detonated a bomb at the facility killing seven Americans in the attack. 
America has now lost two outstanding patriots in the Wise family and 
both Benjamin and Jeremy will be deeply missed.
  The United States of America remains a strong beacon for freedom and 
liberty around the world because of brave, honorable and dedicated 
service members like SFC Benjamin Wise and his brother, Jeremy. The 
Wise family has endured an incredible burden and made an extraordinary 
sacrifice on behalf of all Americans and we are forever thankful.
  Today, I ask all Members of Congress to join me as we honor the life 
and legacy of Army Sergeant First Class Benjamin Wise, as well as each 
man and woman in our Armed Forces, and all of those in harm's way 
supporting their efforts, who give the ultimate sacrifice in service to 
this great country. I also ask that we recognize the sacrifice and 
burdens our military families endure in support of this great country. 
We owe them all our eternal gratitude.

                          ____________________