Bennedsen, Robert N
Male
Verified U.S. Army First Lieutenant Robert N. Bennedsen, 25, of Vashon, Washington, was killed by enemy small-arms fire in Qalat, Afghanistan, on July 18, 2010.
Their Story
Robert N. Bennedsen was a 25-year-old U.S. Army officer from Vashon, Washington. He served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, which was based in Vilseck, Germany.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Bennedsen died on July 18, 2010, in Qalat, the capital of Afghanistan's Zabul province. He was killed by enemy small-arms fire while conducting a mounted patrol.
His death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2010, the conflict was marked by a surge of U.S. forces and intense fighting in southern provinces like Zabul and neighboring Kandahar.
Bennedsen's body was returned to the United States. The Army posthumously awarded him the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. His family and community on Vashon Island held memorial services.
He was remembered by his unit as a dedicated leader. His name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Vashon Island Cemetery.
Explore Further
First Lieutenant Bennedsen was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
