Benjamin A. Sklaver
Profile
Age: 32
From: Medford, Mass.
Assigned to the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Greensboro, N.C.
Incident: Army Capt. Benjamin A. Sklaver died Oct. 2 in Murcheh, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained when he was attacked by a suicide bomber. Also killed was Pfc. Alan H. Newton Jr.
Died: October 02, 2009
Dad: Soldier wanted to win hearts of Afghans
By Pat Eaton-Robb
The Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. — Army Capt. Benjamin Sklaver was a humanitarian who lived and died trying to fix whatever he found broken in the world, his friends and family said Monday.
The 32-year-old reservist had worked on refugee issues in Africa and started a nonprofit organization that brought clean drinking water to thousands. He was killed Friday in southeastern Afghanistan when his civil affairs unit was ambushed by a suicide attacker.
“Ben was a patriot, loved his country and loved serving,” said friend Jake Herrle. “But he also saw his job in the Army to be a combatant for peace. He saw the Army as a way to do greater good.”
Sklaver, a Hamden native, was almost finished with his reserve commitment and was engaged to be married when he was recalled to duty this spring and sent to...