Senior Airman Benjamin D. White

Benjamin spent his growing-up years in Johnson City, Tennessee running track and playing soccer.  After graduating from high school at Science Hill High School, Ben enrolled at East Tennessee  State University for several semesters, but continued to search for the perfect path for his life. In  July 2006, Ben joined the Air Force. From the time he first heard of Air Force Pararescue, Ben  knew he had found his goal–becoming an Air Force PJ and serving his country according to the  Pararescue motto “These Things We Do So That Others May Live.” Saving lives, both military and  civilian, is what Pararescue is all about. Pararescuemen (PJs) receive exceptional training and  qualification in a variety of combat, search and rescue, and medical support expertises. PJs are also  among the most highly trained emergency trauma specialists in the U.S. military. This group of Air  Force elite is the only one in the Department of Defense specifically trained and equipped to  conduct conventional and unconventional rescue processes. 

In April 2010, Ben deployed from Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona to Afghanistan. Ben  flew 90 rescue sorties in the 45 days he was operational in Afghanistan. On 9 June 2010, while  serving as a member of the 41st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Ben and his team left Camp  Bastion, Afghanistan on a mission to rescue a wounded British Marine. Their HH-60G Pave Hawk  helicopter crashed after being hit by an RPG. Four airmen aboard the helicopter, including Ben,  were killed instantly. The copilot died a few weeks later from injuries sustained in the crash. In  addition to the Purple Heart, Ben was awarded the Combat Action Medal and the Air Medal for his  actions on 9 June, 2010. Ben, you are loved and missed with every breath we draw–you will  NEVER be forgotten!