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1st Lt.
Benjamin D. Keating, 27, of Shapleigh, Maine, died November 26 in Kamdesh,
Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when his vehicle turned over.
Keating was assigned to 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment
(Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Target Acquisition), 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York. He was born in Sanford, Maine on May 31, 1979. He attended Shapleigh, Maine schools and was a 1997 graduate of Massabesic High School. He was a member of the Springvale First Baptist Church where he was a youth leader and taught Sunday School. Keating was commissioned into the regular Army following graduation from the University of New Hampshire in 2004 with a B.A. degree in history and the classics. He graduated magna cum laude and also participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. He planned on serving fours years of active duty and then entering law school. |
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| In July 2004 he was
commissioned and completed the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox,
Kentucky., and was assigned to Fort Drum in December 2004. His first
assignment was as platoon leader for B Troop, 3-71 Cavalry from December
2004 until November 2005. Keating deployed to Afghanistan with his unit as part of Task Force Spartan in February 2006. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with ‘V' Device, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Combat Action Badge.
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