Army Spc. Benjamin W. Isenberg
Death: Sep 13, 2004
" 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. 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. Isenberg27 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 Jeremiah4 and Kraig 2. — Associated Press"