View Full Version : MSG Benjamin Bitner, RIP
RIP MSG Bitner, Vaya con Dios..
Special Forces Soldier dies in Afghanistan
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, April 25, 2011) – A U.S. Special Forces Soldier died April 23 while on patrol in the Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.
Master Sgt. Benjamin Franklin Bitner, 37, died from wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device (IED). He was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C.
For further information, media should contact the U.S. Special Forces Command Public Affairs Office during duty hours at 910-432-6005, or after duty hours at 910-689-6187.
http://www.soc.mil/Memorial%20Wall/Bios/Bitner_Benjamin.pdf
The original post from SOC contained an error in MSG Bitner's rank.
Red Flag 1
04-25-2011, 17:42
Rest In God's Peace Warrior.
RIP SFC Bitner. Thank you for your service and prayers out to the family.
RIP SFC Bitner, prayers and condolences to your family and friends...
Thank you for your service..
Rest in Peace warrior - thank you for your service. Your family will be in our prayers.
longrange1947
04-25-2011, 19:09
Rest in Peace Sniper.
ZonieDiver
04-25-2011, 19:23
Rest In Peace.
Mr Furious
04-25-2011, 19:47
Ben, rest in peace my brother. I took this pic of Ben and Ron Phillips building targets together in KU back in 2002. They are both drinking together now in that team room in the sky. It was an honor to serve with you, and you will never be forgotten.
The Reaper
04-25-2011, 19:50
RIP, brother.
Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.
You will not be forgotten.
Prayers out.
TR
Rest in Peace Brother.....
Ambush Master
04-25-2011, 21:31
Rest In Peace Brother!!
Thoughts and Prayers out to ALL of your Family!!
Will be looking for'ya @ that Final RP, along with all of the rest of our Brothers, that you have joined!!
Martin
Rest easy little brother.
See you on the other side Brother. Thoughts and prayers are out to the family.
Tatonka316
04-25-2011, 22:30
Rest in Peace, SFC. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. You will ALWAYS be missed and NEVER forgotten.
molon labe
Abu Jack
04-26-2011, 05:50
Rest In Peace
nousdefions
04-26-2011, 06:36
Rest in Peace, Warrior.
Home of the Free, because of the Brave
Rest in Peace Warrior and thank you for your service and ultimate sacrifice.
B36reconman
04-26-2011, 09:09
Rest in Peace Warrior...
DinDinA-2
04-26-2011, 10:16
Rest in peace.
greenberetTFS
04-26-2011, 11:39
God Bless,Rest in Peace Warrior.......:(
Big Teddy
Rest in Peace, Sir. Prayers out to your wife and children.
Mischief65
04-26-2011, 12:55
It was an honor serving with you, Ben. Rest in Peace, brother.
mark46th
04-26-2011, 14:31
Rest In Peace soldier.
Thank you SFC Bitner for your service and sacrifices. Thank you for standing guard for our freedoms, and those of others around the world. Rest in Peace.
Enigma0122
04-27-2011, 06:56
RIP, SFC Bitner. Your service and sacrifice will not be forgotten. God bless you and prayers out to family and friends.
RIP MSG Bitner,
Brother prayers and condolences to your family and friends.
Blue Skies and Soft Landings
REST IN PEACE Brother. See you on the other side. You always made it look easy.
Hunter84
04-29-2011, 10:16
Rest in peace Ben...
Peregrino
04-29-2011, 14:41
Lieutenant Colonel Donald R. Franklin
Commanding
3d Special Forces Group (Airborne)
A Memorial Ceremony
in honor of
Master Sergeant Benjamin F. Bitner
will be held
on Friday, the sixth of May two thousand and eleven at two o’clock
JFK Chapel, Building D-3116, Ardennes and Zabitosky Streets
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Military: Duty Uniform
Civilian: Casual
RIP
prayers to family and friends
bravo22b
05-05-2011, 09:25
RIP, MSG Bitner.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, May 28, 2011 at the Special Events Center, 407 Washington St., Greencastle, PA.
Born July 4, 1973, in Hagerstown, Md., he was the son of Roger and Beverly Bitner of Greencastle. He is a 1991 graduate of Greencastle-Antrim High School.
Prior to his SF career, MSG Bitner was a soldier in the MDARNG Long Range Surveillance Detachment.
Our unit will be sending representatives to this memorial service in Pennsylvania.
RIP MSG Bitner, may God bless and keep you always. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.
RIP MSG Bitner. He was in my son's old company. He said MSG Bitner was one of the really good guys.
HMass18Z
05-19-2011, 13:42
RIP MSG .....
THE_Onus
05-19-2011, 17:23
Rest in Peace, MSG.
U.S. Army Master Sgt. Benjamin Franklin Bitner remembered as a man of principle.
Richard
Hundreds Attend Memorial Service For Fallen Green Beret
Herald-Mail, 28 May 2011
Hundreds came out Saturday to honor the memory of U.S. Army Master Sgt. Benjamin Franklin Bitner at a memorial service at Rescue Hose Co. No. 1.
Bitner, 37, a native of Greencastle, was killed April 23 in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device.
As the song "Story of My Life" played in the background, clips of Bitner passed in front of the eyes of more than 400 family members, friends and community members who attended the service.
For those who knew him or wanted to know him better, the video helped the crowd honor Bitner's memory on a more personal level.
"Today, we honor Master Sergeant Benjamin F. Bitner, who, on April 23, 2011, paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom while serving his country in Afghanistan as an assault team sergeant for Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), United States Army," according to a statement released by Bitner's family.
Bitner grew up in Greencastle and enlisted in the U.S. Army prior to graduating from Greencastle-Antrim High School in 1991.
Sgt. Richard Wilson met Bitner in 2004 while serving as his team sergeant. That, according to Wilson, was the beginning of a lifelong friendship.
"Ben was a true professional. He excelled in everything he did. He is a walking example of what right looks like," Wilson said.
"I'll never forget Ben Bitner. This town has a lot to be proud of. I have never met a more professional Green Beret than your son Ben," Wilson said to Bitner's parents, Roger and Beverly Bitner.
Sgt. First Class Kurt Hohan served with Bitner. Hohan said for the first several months, Bitner chided him with the nicknames "Hot Rod" and "Hog Head."
"Being average or out of shape were two things that Ben didn't allow," Hohan said. "One of Ben's primary concerns was bringing everybody home."
"Ben was a man of principle. He loved being a Green Beret. He loved his family. He loved his dogs, and he loved his guns," Hohan said.
Ben Thomas of Greencastle remembered a young Ben Bitner.
Thomas said Bitner came from a family that believes in service. Roger Bitner is a firefighter and Beverly Bitner served as an ambulance dispatcher. Many in Bitner's family have served their country and their community in many capacities.
"I saw confidence in Ben as a small boy," Thomas said. "The citizens of this community humbly thank Benjamin Franklin Bitner for his confidence, his bravery and his service. Well done, thy good and faithful servant."
On the Saturday before Easter, Chaplain David Reese had the difficult job of delivering the news of Bitner's death to his family.
"We knew we would be bringing heartache to those who loved Ben at 4 o'clock that Saturday afternoon," Reese said.
Later in the service, roll call was called with members of Bitner's special forces unit calling back their names until Bitner's name was called.
Bitner — no answer. Master Sergeant Bitner — no answer. Master Sergeant Benjamin Franklin Bitner — no answer.
The eerie silence was broken by the clang of a bell. Then, three rifle rounds split the stillness followed by taps.
http://articles.herald-mail.com/2011-05-28/news/29595850_1_memorial-service-rescue-hose-beverly-bitner
bravo22b
05-30-2011, 07:43
Hundreds Attend Memorial Service For Fallen Green Beret
Herald-Mail, 28 May 2011
Hundreds came out Saturday to honor the memory of U.S. Army Master Sgt. Benjamin Franklin Bitner at a memorial service at Rescue Hose Co. No. 1.
I attended the memorial service for MSG Bitner on Saturday. It was a very moving ceremony, and it was obvious how much pride his community had in him and in his service.
I didn't know MSG Bitner, but I wish I had. It was clear that he was a exemplary Special Forces soldier and father.
Thank you for your service, and rest in peace MSG Bitner.
Stingray
06-04-2011, 02:41
Rest in Peace MSG Bitner. Thank you for your service. Prayers to your family and friends.
Sincerely,
bravo22b
06-21-2011, 11:00
Can anybody put me in contact with someone who was close to MSG Bitner and/or his family?
Our unit is planning something in his honor, we would like to get the family's input prior to doing it.
I am happy to provide more details via PM, I can understand the sensitivity of the request. Alternatively, I can forward the information through an intermediary.
Thank you in advance.
bravo22b
09-20-2011, 12:34
With the permission of MSG Bitner's family, we have renamed one of our local DZ's in his honor. MSG Bitner served in our unit prior to his career in Special Forces, and we wanted to do something in his memory.
Based on discussions with those who knew him when he served here, I am 99% confident that he jumped into this DZ while he was a soldier here.
Bitner DZ is located in western Maryland, and we jump into it several times a year. We generally have plenty of spare chutes for anyone who has current Hazardous Duty orders and wants to straphang.
The DZ should be showing up in the next ZAR update with a new survey.
RIP, MSG Bitner.