Breaking News Posted: 9/11/06
North Branch Marine Johnathan Benson dies of war injuries
By MaryHelen Swanson
With his family at his side, Cpl. Johnathan Benson, 21, of North Branch, passed away peacefully at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 9.
Cpl. Benson, a 2003 graduate of North Branch Area High School, was injured in Iraq during his second tour of duty when a roadside bomb exploded under his vehicle near Habbaniyah, Iraq.
Benson lost his left leg, part of his left arm and had severe internal injuries. While at Brooke Army Medical Center he suffered strokes and was treated for a bacteria he contracted in Iraq.
During an impromptu ceremony Sunday night, Sept. 10, friends in North Branch raised an American flag provided by NB VWF Post #6424 in Bensonís honor.
The Benson family is preparing funeral arrangements which the Post Review will run as soon as they are completed. For his injuries during both his first tour and second, Benson received two purple hearts.
Comments made to this announcement will be forwarded to his parents Marjorie and Steve Benson.
Cpl. Benson is also survived by his birth mother Dawn Schubert of Florida.
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