VASHON ISLAND, Wash. -- A well-known Vashon Island volunteer firefighter and high school athlete was laid to rest Sunday after becoming a casualty in Afghanistan.
Lt. Robert Bennedsen, 25, was killed on July 18 when a roadside bomb exploded.
According to his family, this was Lt. Bennedsen's first deployment. An ambulance in his convoy hit an IED. He apparently got out of his vehicle to assist when he stepped on an IED.
Bennedsen's family says his commitment to public service and respect for his grandfather, who was a World War II pilot, lead him to join the Army.
"We will miss him more than anything in the world and we are in complete shock still to this day," said the Bennedsen family in a written statement.
"Robert was an amazing son, a war hero that saved a few lives on July 18th, and the best baby brother than anyone could ever ask for," says Jamie Bennedsen.
A scholarship fund is set up at Chase Bank through the Bounty Club in Robert Bennedsen's name. This fund will provide scholarships for high school seniors involved in sports.
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