WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Tim Griffin and Mike Ross and Sen. Mark Pryor expressed their respect Tuesday for a Little Rock soldier who died Sunday from wounds suffered in combat in Afghanistan.
The parents of Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin B. Wise, 34, live in Camden and his wife and children live in Puyallup, Wash., according to Ross, D-Prescott.
Wise died at Landstuhl Regional Medicare Center in Landstuhl, Germany on Sunday from wounds suffered when his unit was attacked Jan. 9 in Balkh province with small-arms fire, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
“My thoughts and prayers are with his family, and I join with all Americans in mourning his passing,” said Griffin, R-Little Rock, in a statement Tuesday.
Ross called Wise a “true American hero” in a statement that praised his “bravery, dedication and patriotism.”
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“My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, children, parents and the rest of his many family and friends during this very difficult time,” Ross said.
Wise was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.
“We are a nation forever grateful for his service and sacrifice,” Pryor said. “While Arkansas has lost a great patriot, the Wise family has paid an extraordinary price in service to our country. I extend my deepest condolences to them, and I ask all Arkansans to keep the Wise family in their prayers during this difficult time.