Fellow Veterans, Family Gather to Remember Soldier who Died During Annual Training Accident in 1999

Deb Kash described her son, Spc. Benjamin Kash, as "everyone's big brother" and "someone who looked out for others."

"It just made sense for him to enlist in the Illinois National Guard and continue the protection of others," said Kash at a remembrance gathering in honor of Spc. Benjamin Kash at the Waltonville, Illinois, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post March 14.

Spc. Benjamin Kash, the oldest of five children of Randy and Debbie Kash, enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in 1996, serving with 3rd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment, then based at Mount Vernon, Illinois. On June 5, 1999, Kash died in an accident during the unit's annual training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

"He was looking forward to this training," Deb said. "He had met some Army Rangers during the first time the unit trained at Fort Campbell. Before he left for this annual training, we had lunch, our last lunch together, and told me he had decided to go active duty in the U.S. Army. He said it's where he wanted to be."

Kash was a three-sport athlete at Waltonville High School, where he graduated in 1997. He played baseball and basketball, but Deb said he really loved football.

"His dad, Randy, told him football is about being a team. They depend on each other on the field," Deb said. "I guess it was the same joining the military. The people you serve with depend on you to have their backs."

Not quite 18 when he enlisted, Deb had to sign for Benjamin to enlist in the Illinois Army National Guard.

"I didn't want to sign the paperwork for him to enlist in the Illinois National Guard," she said. "I saw the determination and his desire to join, so I signed his enlistment documents."

The idea of a remembrance event came about from the Survivor Outreach Services Hannibal, Missouri Riverboat tour, in which the Kashes have participated in the past couple of years.

"Sheila (Forristall, the Survivor Outreach Services coordinator for southern Illinois) asked if we would like to have a gathering so those who served with Ben could remember him as well," Deb said. "It is wonderful to see so many people here today."

Mark Howe, the unit's Readiness Noncommissioned Officer in 1999, said Kash was an awesome Soldier.

"He never shied away from getting dirty," he said. "He didn't realize the example he made for the other Soldiers. He just wanted to do a good job."

Howe said Kash always put in the extra time doing his job.

"He was one of the good kids," Howe said. "The entire unit was devastated when he died."

Howe said because this was prior to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the young Soldiers hadn't experienced the loss of a fellow Soldier.

"Loss wasn't commonplace," Howe said. "Kash's loss was absolutely the exception."

After a few days back home to attend their brother-in-arms' funeral, the unit returned to Fort Campbell to complete annual training and then returned home.

Howe said one Soldier in particular had a very difficult time in dealing with Kash's death, but with help, and time, was able to fulfill his military service.

"You can't train to accept loss," Howe said. "You can only train to deal with it."

For Kash's son, Andrew, who was nine-months-old when his father died, seeing the about 90 people gather to remember his father is an incredible feeling.

"It was awesome to see so many people here to remember him," Andrew said. "It's an incredible feeling to know even after almost 27 years, that people still remember him and are willing to share stories about their time together."

Although Kash died almost 27 years ago, his four siblings haven't forgotten what he meant to them and always share stories of their brother with their own children.

"His nieces and nephews ask a lot of questions about him," Deb said. "Although his two brothers and two sisters were younger when he died, they always talk about him with their own children, and they make a point to stop at his gravesite when they are in town."

For the members of Waltonville VFW Post 9153, it was an obvious decision when the opportunity came up to host the event.

"Ben was a good buddy," said Benjamin Newborn, Waltonville Quartermaster and District 13 Senior Vice Commander. "We grew up together, and we served together in the Illinois National Guard."

Newborn said in many communities, especially small communities like Waltonville with a population less than 500, Veterans Service Organizations like the VFW are often the heart of the community.

"When the family started talking about an event, we stepped up and volunteered to host," Newborn said. "It's the least we could do for the family of someone who died in service to his country. To see so many people come out today is very humbling to say the least. It makes me very proud to be part of an organization who steps up to do something like this."