Benedict Joseph Smith

West Point, 1999

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Hannibal Bray on August 8, 2005:

I was Ben's Company Commander in the B/5-101 AVN "Lancers" at Fort Campbell. The Lancers lost 4 of its finest on November 7th, and though words cannot capture the magnitude of the tragedy, or the loss we all feel, I take some solace in knowing they spent their final moments together. Paul Neff, Scott Rose, Kyran Kennedy, and Ben Smith will be forever missed. I mean, no matter how much I yelled at him, Benny always had a smile on his face! He was the Mountain Dew kid. And he couldn't sing worth a damn, but that never stopped him. That song about Superman and "I'm just a man in a silly red sheet . . . " was my absolute favorite - Ben, you will always be my hero. You and Maggie were magic together. Maggie, I hope you have found some peace. I think of you often. Here is my humble tribute to the Lancers we lost that day. LOST - 11/7/03 Just when it seemed we'd seen the darkest Just when it seemed we'd make it through Just when it seemed you would all come home Just then I lost you Cuz when it's time to go, you just don't know Still it's time to go just the same And when it's time to go, I hope you know That I'll never forget your name Ben was young, looked even younger And 29's too young to die A soldier and a friend, till the bitter end All I can say is why? Kyran came from Massachusetts Raised his family strong with his loving wife I'm gonna miss the man, and how he took his stand He always did what's right Scott was always pushing harder Always leading the way I never saw him fall And his child will grow, but she'll never know How her Dad was a hero to us all Paul was fearless and courageous The kind of man I'd want in a fight But now he's gone, and all I've got's this song To get me through the night Cuz when it's time to go, you just don't know Still it's time to go just the same And when it's time to go, I hope you know That I'll never forget your name

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