27, of Shapleigh, Maine; assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Target Acquisition), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Nov. 26 of injuries sustained when his vehicle turned over in Kamdesh, Afghanistan.
To honor CPT Benjamin D. Keating, his mother, Mrs. Beth Keating retrieved this stone from the Kennebunk Beach, one of Ben’s favorite places to visit when he was home on leave.
Beth talks about why this stone is significant and what is says about her son.
“I grew up in Kennebunk and my Mom lived there when our kids were small. Whenever we went to the Beach, Ken and I took Jess and Ben to Kennebunk Beach. It was always like going home for me and since I dragged Ken up here from Massachusetts, it quickly became a special place for him as well. Apart from Acadia National Park, I would say it was Ben’s favorite place in the world. Whenever he was home on leave, we made our way to the beach and took a long walk. The last time Ben was home (about a month before he died) he chose something special to do with each of us alone. He played golf with this Dad, went for hike with Jess and the day before he left, he and I went out breakfast, then went for a walk on Kennebunk Beach. It is a special memory.
Ben also loved the mountains, Mt. Washington in particular. He thought Afghanistan was beautiful, but harsh. The stone is granite, symbolic of the mountains of New England, that Ben loved and hiked.
Regarding who he was, I could write a book. He was funny, bright, loved people of all ages, and wanted to do all he could to bring out the best in people. He loved his family (including the large extended family). One of the “cousins” he was the life of the party when we were all together. He was not a saint, by any means, but we love him still and will miss him forever.”
59 Comments
I’m so honored to be carrying his stone to Mt. Katahdin.
.
Last fall Major Dave Cote came to our Patriot Riders of America Maine Chapter One and told us about the Summit Project that he was planning for Memorial weekend 2014. He wanted the familyâs of every soldier that was killed after 9-11 to have a memorial stone picked out by the family and engraved with their name, rank, year of birth and date of death. We were to carry the stone from Portland to Mount Katahdin on our motorcycles and pass the stone to a family member or hiker who would carry the stone to the peak of the mountain. I was honored to Carry the memorial stone of Captain Benjamin Keating son of Ken and Beth Keating. May 23rd 2014 is a day I will never forget, I left my house in Sanford in the rain and road to the Portland Elks to receive his stone from a Boy Scout, we then proceeded to Augusta where we met members of Chapter Two and then proceeded to Bangor at Dysart’s where Major Coteâs mother Monica joined me on my bike. We proceeded to Medway for a short break and then continued onto Millinocket where the towns people had lined the street and waving flags. As we were going down the dirt road to the base of the mountain we all got emotional as we new we would have to hand over our soldierâs stone to another person. I handed over Captain Keating to the person that would carry him to the peak. Sunday morning we picked up the memorial stones to bring back to MEPS in Portland. Anyone can go see the displays and read the story of all the soldiers at MEPS at 510 Congress ST. Portland, Maine on the 3rd floor. I knew Ken and Beth Keating but I did not know Ben so I set out to find more about him. I talked to older church members who found him very respectful, employers who found him a hard worker who had a sense of humor and others his age who looked up to him as a leader.
nice write up from you Bruce. I had no idea you were involved in this symbolic project to honor Benâs life . Tragic that he died but even worse that the army would even think of placing a Post surrounded by mountains. They were so vulnerable! Thank you for your contribution !
From July 15-23, 2014 Allmuth Perzel was carrying the memorial stone of Captain Benjamin D. Keating on the top of Mt. Washington, the highest mountain in New England with the worst weather. I was volunteering as a cook for the Mt. Washington Observatory’s crew and guests. Cpt. Keating loved Mt. Washington and the surrounding mountains. The memorial stone was wrapped in a protective “honor” bag sewed by me and put into my backpack. I took the stone on several hikes around the top of Mt. Washington. Often I cradled his stone in my hands , took a photo of the stone and let it be exposed in the sunshine. The longest hike I took with his stone lasted 9 hours on a section of the Presidential Traverse making a difficult loop via the ascent of the Great Gulf Trail. I must have climbed over a thousand rocks plus on a desolate rock slide.
Cpt. Keating’s spirit was with me giving me strength to complete my hike. His sacrifice for our country and freedom I felt with every step. It was a privilege to carry his stone and to be free to enjoy life. Thank you Ben for leading me back to the top of MT. Washington.
Dear Allmuth
I must apologize for taking so long in responding to you after receiving the pictures and touching note you wrote after your hike carrying Ben’s stone. I confess that my eyes filled with tears as I looked at the pictures and read your letter. We have some wonderful memories of family hikes up through Tuckerman’s to the summit. How kind of you to honor Ben and help us relive some of the days we spent with our special son.
With gratitude,
Beth and Ken
Russ Shoberg; Maine Marathon runner #92; 05Oct2014; finish time 4:30:40
This story starts in August at this yearâs Maine Run for the Fallen where my buddy Doug Kerr and I talked with a couple of charismatic Marines and learned about The Summit Project. I took a flyer and promised to spend some time thinking about how I fit in with TSP. Two days later, I requested permission to carry a heroâs stone in this yearâs Maine Marathon on 05October. I was granted permission to carry Captain Benjamin Keatingâs stone. Shortly thereafter, Doug asked and received permission to carry Sgt. Joshua Kirkâs stone in the half-marathon as well. The story of their day together will be told by Doug.
Early on race morning Doug arrived at my house to ride down to the start in Portland. Prior to leaving my house, we shared a prayer over the stones, asking for a clarity of purpose, that we run our events with dignity and humility while honoring our heroes AND their families (our purpose for the day). We arrived in Portland with plenty of time to spare so we walked the boulevard sharing what we had learned about Ben and Josh, and catching each other up on the past week. We remarked about the signboards citing inspirational scriptures we found posted along the course. These reminded me of the connection Ben had with his home church, serving as a youth leader and Sunday School teacher.
As we arrived back near the corral area near the start time, we found some friends and Dougâs family who had arrived later. We shared hugs and good luck wishes with all and then separated to get ourselves ready for the day ahead. Even though we promised to meet up ânear the water tableâ, that was the last time we saw each other until later on the course. In hindsight, it was fitting for us to start the race alone with our hero âon boardâ (ironically, among 3000-plus other anxious people).
After listening to a terrific rendition of âThe Star Spangled Bannerâ, I heard the countdown and started my running day with a booming cannon shot. The first mile or so was run in a crowd of people all trying to find their stride and without much talking. As the pack began to stretch out, some conversations started up, often questions about my ACU camo kilt or why my hydration pack didnât have a drinking tube (not a crazy question at all). That gave me a chance to tell people what I was carrying in that pack, and a bit about what I knew of Captain Ben Keating. More importantly, it gave me a chance to tell people why I was running in his memory â to honor Ben and his surviving family, and to share the story and mission of TSP.
As would be expected, running 26.2 miles is never simple or easy on the mind and body. Having run some marathons in my past, I knew that there would be lots of good miles, as well as some tough miles later on. After getting loosened up over the first hour, and talking about Ben with several new friends, I was approaching the point in the race where the marathon and half-marathon runners split off. Thatâs where Doug and I saw each other for the first time since being âlostâ before the start. We stopped for a quick hug and encouragement to âget it done for Ben and Josh!â, and headed off in opposite directions, to run alone among a bunch of strangers again.
From miles nine through 16, the miles were flowing by. I took some short breaks to take photos with Benâs stone. When I wasnât sharing Benâs story, I spent time reflecting on what he might have had to say at that point or in silent prayer for his family, and all the families of our Maine heroes. Around mile 18, the âworkâ began as fatigue started to settle in. I was feeling the weight on my back, and feeling the road. As the packs of runners began to thin out, there were still opportunities to continue sharing Benâs story with people that ended up alongside me for a while. When I found myself running alone, I kept reminding myself that I was not really alone. I had Benâs stone and his story with me, as well as a purpose for why I was out there that day.
Between 18-20 miles, the fatigue accumulated, and the âbear on my backâ feeling hit me. I considered all of the fatigue and pain that Ben must have endured during his training and service. This helped to remind me of why I had Benâs stone in my back and a bit of his story in my head. At 20 miles, Dougâs family came into view on the side of the road. After some quick hugs and a âThanks for being out hereâ, his wife Charissa said that she was going to run the last leg with me. Along the way, we talked about our mutual participation in past Run for the Fallen events, our respect for those that answer the call of duty and the sacrifices that military families make. She got to hear me share Benâs story with more people along the way back into Portland. Our silent stretches were spent in reflection and prayer for those that we were honoring that day.
As we turned onto Baxter Boulevard for that long homestretch to the finish, we found ourselves amidst a few runners nearing the end of their first marathons. Telling Benâs story again reminded me of the leadership qualities he exhibited in his church, his community, during college at UNH, and in his Army service. Those thoughts prompted me to put my experience into action and help to lead some newbies to their finish. At the 26 mile point, I took Benâs stone out of the pack and ran that last stretch with his heroâs stone visible for the crowd to see. Once again that day, it seemed that Ben âshowed upâ to help pull other people to their objective.
I hope that my efforts on the course that day helped to honor Capt. Keating and his family. I also hope that by sharing a bit of Benâs story with strangers made an impact that day to ensure that Ben and all other Maine Heroes Are Not Forgotten. The things I learned about Capt. Keating and his service in Afghanistan will stick in my memory for a long time. I know that I will remember my time spent on the road that day with his stone in my pack and his story in my head for a long, long time.
Russ,
Ben returned home from Afghanistan for two weeks of R&R on October 6, 2006, eight years to the day before you carried his stone in the Maine Marathon. We had two great weeks together. He died 7 weeks later. We had no idea that we were welcoming him home for the last time that day. Even if we had, we never would have dreamed people would still be talking about him eight years later. He would be even more surprised. As one who also carried Ben on his back (long before he grew to 6’2″ and 210 lbs), I want to thank you for the time and effort you spent to learn about Ben and to share his story. It is a special blessing because you are man of prayer.
Ken
Hi Russ,
I am very moved how you engaged yourself physically and spiritually with the “HONOR” stone of Cpt Ben Keating.
Thank you for remembering and honoring our fallen heroes from Maine.
I too took his stone to the White Mountain National Forest.
The mountains Ben loved and shared his live with all the hikers I met. I can identify with your expereince.
Allmuth Perzel
I donât know who you are I worked with him in Afghanistan, as interpreter some some memories never go away. He is always in my prayers. Take care and be save
Dear Russ,
thank you for honoring Cpt. Ben Keating’s memory. I too took his stone to the top of MT Washington and on the Presidential Travers. I shared the same feeling you expressed.
It was an experience of a life time and very difficult to put into words.
Dear Rus (and Allmuth)
We never fail to be touched by the stories of those who carry Ben’s memorial stone. You certainly honor him and all young men and women who serve their country in the armed forces, and particularly those whose lives were lost in their service. I echo Ken’s thoughts and appreciation.
Ben’s sister Jess (who ran the Marine Corp Marathon in Ben’s memory last year) ran a relay leg in the Maine Marathon a couple of weeks ago. She met Megan Kirk (Josh’s wife) on the course and ran with her for a while until Jess handed off her “baton.” Ben and Josh were certainly honored and remembered that day.
Hello, for the summit project I was given the stone of Benjamin Keating and I’m glad I was. Benjamin and I shared some common interests. We both loved going to kennebunk beach, we both loved mountains, and we both were funny and loved our families. I was really excited to carry his stone up the mountain because he helped lead his brothers in arms and I could relate to that because where I play high school football you have to help lead your team, even if no one else wants to go down that road.
Beyond âArmy Benâ
To Beth, Ken, and Jess Keating,
When I was invited to participate in the Summit Projectâs event in Portland, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to honor the service members from my state that made the ultimate sacrifice for those they knew and loved, and for those they never would. It takes incredible strength, courage, and selflessness to do so and I am eternally grateful to those who have the gumption. I have several former and active servicemen in my family including my cousins Curtis and Danny who were in the US Army, my grandfather who was a major in the US Air Force, and my cousin Jarred who is currently serving overseas.
This is not, however, the only parallel that can be drawn between my life and that of your closely-knit family. Beth, you shared with me that your son attended the University of New Hampshire and was studying in the fields of history and the classics. Although I was not studying the same subjects, I likely walked the same paths, and attended classes in the same halls as Ben, during the year that I studied communication at UNH. I found myself wondering if he preferred to dine and Holloway Commons, Philbrook, or Stillings, but that is rather superfluous.
Beth, during my email correspondence with you, you revealed to me that you grew up in the Kennebunk area and came to live in a house just off the Arundel Road (or as the locals call it, the âLester Wildes Roadâ), under a mile from the house I grew up, and have lived in my whole life. The similarities persist!
Iâve come to understand the deep connection that your family has with Gooches Beach in Kennebunk, and the power of the memories youâve made there over the years. I can identify with your love of running and walking the beach, sitting on the long, stone jetti, watching as ships pull in and out of port on long summer days. You described the scene of your kids bodysurfing in the waves and emerging with skin, blueish from the cold water. This stuck out to me as I have noticed that same hue on my own skin, in the same waves, on the same beach, each summer since I can remember. Much like your family, nothing has ever stopped mine from taking long walks on the beach during any time of year, whatever the weather, and leaving with sandy pockets. This persistence marks the âtrue Mainersâ! I struck out to Gooches Beach on a windy day in late February, with a disposable camera, in hopes of capturing the views that had come to be the backdrop of some of your most cherished memories with Ben, I hope I succeeded in doing so.
I do not claim to youâre son, your brother, but I will claim stake to the respect I have always had for those like him, those who put others before themselves, who live their lives in dedication to the wellbeing of those around them.
It was in hopes of recognizing and spreading this respect that I set out to be a stonecarrier during this Summit Project event. Greg had described the experience to me briefly, mostly just that was to be incredibly rewarding and meaningful, which were my only expectations for the day. What transpired became much heavier, so to speak.
At the MEPS, we stood in line, waiting to be handed our respective stones, but before I was handed Benâs stone, I felt the weight of my responsibility, of the impending trek, and what it would come to mean to my life. We set out from the MEPS on the first leg of the trek, to a waterfront gazebo that overlooked the bay. I had been to this gazebo before, but never had I seen the sun shine so brilliantly over the water.
After a short break for food, and what I had originally thought was coffee, but turned out to be chicken broth, we filed into the gazebo to share with the other hikers, what he had come to know about the soldiers whose stones we were carrying. As each hiker took their turn, I listened, proud to be among them as well as pleasantly surprised that I was not the only one who had been assigned to carry the stone of one with whom I had commonalities. When the woman next to me spoke of the young man she was honoring, my stomach dropped, I worried about embarrassing myself, of not being able to effectively express myself, I thought: âWhat will I say about Benjamin D. Keating that will make them understand?â. I soon swallowed my pride, for this was not about me. Although I did mention his rank and where he served, with what I chose to share, I intended to highlight the characteristics of his personality that made him worthy of remembrance as a person, not just as a soldier. I felt as though I did well in this and am pleased with what I said.
During the trek I came to hike alongside some truly incredible people. During the first leg, I spoke with a man who served 25 years ago during desert storm. Our conversation grew from the trivial, to the meaningful as we discussed the harshness of this yearâs winter, his service, and my grandfatherâs, our educations, and the way we view those around us, in terms of our common disbelief of how blissfully unaware we are of the baggage each person carries with them. During the second leg, I spoke with a man named Luke who was carrying a stone in memory of his younger brother who lost his life overseas. Luke told me of a scholarship that his family has made in his brotherâs name that allows funding for a child from Maine to attend summer camp each year. It brings me joy to know that the families that have lost love ones, and are giving to their communities, are able to have the community, in turn, give them something. I also spoke with a Professor Rob Sanford, of the environmental science department of USM, whose company I greatly enjoyed. It was speaking with my fellow hikers, and sharing in the experience with them that truly made the trek that much more meaningful.
During our email correspondence, I asked Beth several questions about what her son loved in life. Among other things, she expressed to me that his sister, Jess, was âhis very best friendâ. She told me of their familyâs trips camping at Acadia National Park, Benâs love of the challenge of hiking Mount Washington, golfing with his father, Ken, and the long walks that she so enjoyed taking with him. I asked these questions for two reasons: to write the poem that follows, and to come to see, as she put it, beyond âarmy Benâ.
There is always so much more
than the uniform shipped off to war.
Beneath, a heart beats,
for his country, yes,
but also for Beth, Ken, and Jess;
for the days spent reaching the summit,
and the rush and joy he got from it.
For teeing off and footprints in the sand.
From shore to hand,
to pocket, to jar,
the stones you picked have always gone far.
Out of all the ones you saved,
you chose one to be engraved,
one to be carried,
a memory to be shared.
I am happy to have ferried the spirit
of a man that deeply cared.
As Greg put it in the gazebo, we came together as strangers with a common purpose, but we became a family of individuals that will carry, like stones, the memories of that day in our minds and hearts for the rest of ours.
So beautiful, Sarah. Thank you for your beautiful tribute to our beautiful son. What a joy to meet you and know you.
Thank you and best wishes as you continue your education at USM.
Beth and Ken
My son was on British Army Herrick 18. He camme home safe. I cried when reading about your tragic loss. What a fine lad, you must be so proud, but as a parent i feel so much for your loss. God bless you
Dear Keating family – I recently had the honor of carrying Benâs Hero stone for a second time. This time was in a trail race up in Bath, ME. Shortly after my first run with Benâs stone in the 2014 Maine Marathon, I was able to complete my reading of the âThe Outpostâ. This helped me to gain some more insight into Benâs personality and leadership style through interviews that you gave the author.
While this race was quite a bit shorter than the marathon, any trail event brings a set of challenges to be overcome. For this one, I also carried a stone for Navy SEAL SO1 Patrick Feeks, making the load heavier than the first time that Benâs stone and I ran together. Some of the challenges this race brought included being on a trail Iâd never seen. Any time I try to race through the woods, the new territory brings a bit of uncertainty. Since this was held on a real hiking trail, the terrain required some vigilance to stay on trail and upright as we cruised over and around roots and rocks. I lost count of the number of times I stumbled and caught myself, but it made me appreciate the difficulty and skill needed to patrol areas with difficult terrain. There were a few decent hills to be climbed , which while not overly steep, forced me to be disciplined and control my heart rate. Some of the descents were just as tricky as the climbs due to short leaps down past rocks or roots. Thatâs when my pack would bounce a bit and I really felt the stones on my back. This made me marvel at the level of athleticism and conditioning required for a soldier living and operating at real altitudes. The feeling of the stones hitting my back were a very tangible reminder that this run was occurring on the day prior to Motherâs Day, and it highlighted the stark reality that mothers like Beth, must cope and live with their grief every day.
After leaving the woods and approaching the finish, I removed the stones from my pack and finished with Benâs stone in my left hand, making it visible to anyone near the finish line. The announcer noticed and asked what I was carrying. After I told her they were Hero stones, she asked me to come to the microphone. I took that opportunity to hold Benâs stone up in clear view to let the world know that my run was to honor the life and sacrifice made by Captain Benjamin Keating (US Army). The more chances we make to remember and share a part of his story, helps to keep heroes like Ben from being forgotten.
On 17 Sept 2015 — Candice Creecy wrote — Good afternoon Ma’am. My name is Captain Candice Creecy. I had the honor of carrying your son’s stone on my Denali expedition in May/June of this year. Although I wish I could have met him in person and exchanged adventure stories over a cold beer, I do feel so honored to have been able to bring him to the highest point in the USA. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to hear about his life and sacrifice. I have placed some photos of the climb on Google Drive as well as a video of our journey. I hope these bring a smile to your face and perhaps capture a bit of his spirit. Thank you once again for sharing his memory with me.
Candice
My name is Shannon Moss and on 10.17.15 I carried the stone of US Army 1st Lt. Benjamin Keating up Cadillac Mountain as a part of TSP at ANP.
Since I first learned of The Summit Project I knew it was something I wanted to be apart of. I was raised to have nothing but the utmost respect and gratitude to the men and women in our military and a commitment to remember and honor our Patriots who didn’t make it home.
When asked to choose a stone, Benâs name and story stood out to me. I canât say it was any one thing, it fact, it was many.
I loved how much he loved his family, how spending time and making memories with his parents and sister were so important to him. How family extended to his troops. Ben was clearly a born leader who believed it was his job to serve his men, mentor them, make them laugh and never ask them to do anything he wouldnât do.
As ATL of the hike, I took great comfort and pride in carrying the stone of a soldier, a Mainer who truly embodied the intelligence, toughness and determination of a respected and revered leader, the kind of leader people would follow anywhere.
Those kind of leaders are few and far between.
My husband and I are working hard to raise our boys to have honor, integrity and courage. To be leaders, not followers. In essence, weâre trying to instill in them the very values and characteristics Ben Keating had.
And while I canât comprehend their level of sadness and loss, I hope Benâs family and friends know that he will always be remembered, in many cases by complete strangers, who now feel honored to know himâŚeven just a little.
When I think of US Army 1st Lt. Ben Keating I will remember a man who courageously lived and died for God, country and family.
Dear Keating,
My name is matt peterson. i was assigned to able troop 3-71 fav and i was honored to have served with CPT. keating. He meant a lot to all of is guys and epically me. he took me under him and taught me more then i could ever imagine. your son was the greatest guy i have ever met and theres not a day that goes by that i don’t think of him. it would be great if i heard back from you guys I’m including my email in this so u can email me.
mpeterson2551@yahoo.com
sincerely,
PV2. Peterson
Hello there, My Name is Dawn Boyd. Iâm from the gorgeous deserts of Las Vegas Nevada a world very different than yours. On Memorial Day 2016 in Baxter State Park thousands of miles away from anything I knew I ventured to a very different terrain and had the honor and privilege to carry a stone representing your loved ones story up Owl Mountain. In preparation for this journey I spent time learning of his life and passing. After first learning of Benjaminâs story I spent a lot of time pondering things about life the meaning here and the journey it takes us all on. So, although you donât know me I spent many hours thinking and speaking of you all and Benjamin. During this time of reflection a few thoughts about his life have stood out in forefront in my mind. One quote by my favorite poet in particular never left my thoughts…
âForever is composed of nows.â
-Emily Dickenson
When I read of Benjaminâs life and the actions he took toward you all, in what turned out to be the end, I thought of all the times Iâve heard people say many cliques. So many of us walk around everyday carelessly saying, âYou only live onceâ or âwhen in roamâ but how many of us really actually carry out the actions required behind these phrases that make for a meaningful reality. Your loved one was one of those rare people who lived life to the fullest with purpose. Reading of how he treated his family and the compassion he had in all he did touched my heart. We all think of so many actions we should take all these things we should do yet how many of us actually ever follow through. We think of how we should spend more time with the people we love and there he was right there doing it. He knew that family and people were what mattered most and he strived to be a person that lead by example. He gave you all something more precious that gold, his time. What a Man. To have a heart as his and live so pure is admirable in the upmost way of the word. It was not surprising to learn that same man also dedicated and sacrificed himself to all of us and our country. Benjamin was a hero. Someone I will always look up too. Someone who changed the perspective I had been stuck in. His story and way of life refreshed and renewed my view at a time I very much needed change. For this his story and all of yours will live on in my heart forever. I will proudly carry inspiring as many as I can with his life just as I tried to do at the top of the mountain that day. I am proud to have been allowed the honor to be a part of his story and of yours.
I find peace knowing that those we love never die. I believe with all that I am men like him are alive and well with our Father in heaven. And I look forward to the day I will also have the pleasure of meeting and knowing him.
In deepest sincerity your friend across the country,
Dawn Boyd
May God Bless you and all that you do and may you continue to find peace and love always in all the little things.
My name is Paul Lindahl and I had the priveledge of carrying Benjamin’s stone to the summit of Mt. Tom in Crawford Notch NH on September 11, 2016 as part of the “Flags on the 48”, an organized remembrance event of that day, where groups of hikers raise an American flag at the summit of all 48 of NH’s 4000 foot peaks at the same time on 9/11. I learned that Benjamin loved hiking in NH’s White Mountains, especially Mt. Washington. I am betting that he would have loved being a part of this remembrance event and I was honored to help his spirit be a part of the day.
I just read The Outpost by Jack Tapper and was very struck by what I read about Ben Keating. I’m Scottish and lost one of my friends in 2003 in a road traffic accident when he was serving in the British Army in Iraq. He was another fine young man with huge potential and the parallels were striking.
I’m struck by the sense of duty and commitment Ben Keating demonstrated often in the face of great frustration and the affection he had for his troops . We, in the west at the moment, are kept in ignorance about the heroic actions of our brave soldiers, airmen, sailors and marine who serve to protect us. I think this is a mistake and I am grateful to have been able to learn about their actions.
My grandfather served in this part of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the 1920s, he was a young lieutenant in a Bengal Lancer regiment at the time and I can recall many of the stories he told me about the experience when I was a small boy in the early 1970s. Despite fighting the Japanese in Slim’s Burma campaign and the Germans in North Africa and Italy he would always say that the soldiering on what was the North West Frontier, was the most challenging and the most frustrating. Eventually he transferred to a Gurkha regiment, at the time, they were just about the only soldiers who the local inhabitants were afraid of. Guerrilla tactics were all that worked.
It is a constant error in warfare that senior officers rarely learn from the errors of the past. I blame this on the poor teaching of history we currently see where the achievements of the past and the struggle for freedom is not represented in a way to encourage students to appreciate what we have and to thank those who gained it and those who continue to protect it. I cannot help think that if those responsible for action in this part of Afghanistan had read a book called The Defence of Duffer’s Drift by Major General Swinton, which used to be on the unofficial reading list of many a staff college, many of the errors could have been avoided.
God bless all who serve and who served and we all owe a huge debt to Lt Keating and his family and to all those who laid down their lives and lost love ones.
Hello my name is Lukas I am 10 years old. I got to carry Benjamin D. Keating’s stone up Mount Cadillac for The Summit Project. I liked that I could carry the stone in my pocket so I could touch it when I wanted to. I also was able to take it out and take pictures with it in different parts of the trail. The stone was pretty cool to carry up the mountain. It is also cool that it was from Kennebunk beach. I would like to go there one day to see another one of Ben’s favorite places. I liked that he liked Cadillac as well. I think that it is awesome to carry his stone and tell his story. It was a little hard to tell everyone in our group because everyone was sad. I enjoy carrying peoples’ stone up mountains because it lets more people know about them.
I have a cat do you?
Thank you, Lukas, for carrying Ben’s stone up Cadillac Mt. You are right that Acadia was one of his favorite places on earth. It warms our hearts to know that young people such as yourself want to remember those who have given their life for our country.
After Ben graduated from high school he began leading the youth group and teaching Sunday School in our church. How wonderful that church is such an important part of your life. May God bless you and your family.
Beth and Ken Keating
Dear Benjamin Keatingâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Benjamin Keating by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Benjaminâs life. In my research, I learned that he loved to visit Kennebunk beach, we also learned that he loved to hike so his stone was made of granite in his honor. He was a Sunday school teacher and there is a camp named Camp Keating, he was awarded a bronze star combat action badge. He was born May 31 1979 ,he died at the age of 27 after his vehicle tipped over in Afghanistan on Nov.26 2006.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Benjamin as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We carried his stone in his honor because we would want to remember him and keep him in our minds when we hike up for the motivation not to stop or give up. We passed of the stone on different spots on the hike so everyone could get a chance to honor him by carrying it.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities one activity we did was get a rope with our eyes closed and we had to make a certain shape. We also made up a trail song.
At the top of the summit, there was a great view of the lake! We took a picture of our 6 white team holding a flag that we made with our hand prints.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel honored to be able to honor fallen soldiers by carrying their stones to the summit of mount. major.
Sincerely,
Declan F.
I had the honor of carrying Ben’s stone throughout Bradbury State Park and up Bradbury Mountain. When I showed up for the hike that morning in Freeport I knew that I wanted to carry Ben’s stone as soon as I learned it was present for the hike.
I’m an Afghanistan veteran and UMO ROTC grad from the class of 2006. Ben and I overlapped in our time with our ROTC programs, and if he participated in Ranger Challenge then we most definitely competed against one another. When I was in Afghanistan I flew Chinooks in the province that Ben was killed in. Although COP Keating was no longer there in 2011, I flew over it numerous times. I knew the outcome of COP Keating, but I never knew the tremendous young man that it was named after.
Carrying Ben’s stone was a very special experience for me. I saw a lot of myself and my friends in Ben. What really stuck with me is that he didn’t plan on making the military a career. This allowed him to be the leader that the Army truly needs. He was able to fight for his Soldiers without the fear or ruining or jeopardizing his career. He could focus on being the leader that they needed and taking care of them.
I wish that Iâd had the opportunity to get to know Ben. I have a feeling that if he were still with us heâd be involved in The Summit Project. His desire to be involved in politics and willingness to volunteer for difficult missions shows that he cared deeply for his community and those around him. His love for his family was also demonstrated through his actions when he was on leave, ensuring he had personal time with those that he loved.
Benâs legacy gives us all something to base our lives on. Ben will always serve as a reminder to care for those that are close to us and to ignore what may make us look âgoodâ and to do right by those around us. Thank you for you for your service Ben, and I will ensure that you wonât be forgotten.
– Mike âArchangelâ Keighley
I had the honor and privilege of carrying CPT Benjamin D. Keating’s stone this past Memorial Day weekend up The OWL in Baxter State Park. I have been part of The Summit Project since 2015 when I happened upon David Cote at The Run for the Fallen. Although I had read about TSP before I had never truly understood how powerful it was to take part. That day was slightly different, though, as I wasn’t afforded the opportunity to learn about my hero before the event. On Sunday I set out hiking up that mountain with the knowledge that I was carrying with me a good man, a strong leader and a loving son and brother.
I’ve hiked before. I’ve run a handful of half-marathons. I attend classes at the YMCA. But, this was different. I was quickly taken by surprise at my shortness of breath and let myself fall back a bit from the pack so as to avoid letting anyone hear my labored breathing. I thought a lot about Ben and what he’d do on this hike. I know from what I learned about him that he would not have been one to back down from a challenge. He also would not have let a team member back down, so I picked up the pace and rejoined my group (we had naturally split into two teams and I was with the faster moving of the two). At the next water stop I publicly declared “This is hard!” and was met with agreements and encouragement that we would finish the mission and that The OWL was not for the faint of heart. The realization that there was no judgement in our Team and we were all in it together to support and encourage each other to complete the Mission gave me a renewed energy. There was never any question that Ben and would reach the Summit. We were a strong team of 2 within our larger Team White.
As we hiked I had the opportunity to spend time with several of my teammates along the way. We shared storied about out Heroes and talked about their lives and service. Because of the size of Ben’s stone I was able to carry it in a zippered pocket on my waist strap. This made it easy to reach down and feel him with me every time I needed guidance or a boost. Several times I removed his stone from my pack, unwrapped it from the blue scarf I had wrapped it in and held it in my hands. The smooth texture and rounded edges were comforting to hold, and I appreciated those quiet moments with him to help me regroup. At one point along the trail I was hiking with only one other teammate (carrying the stone of Wade Slack) and we encountered a ledge that was wet and without an obvious way to climb up. I stood and stared for several moments. I tried a few approaches that seemed next to impossible. I voiced to her that I was not sure I was going to be able to get up over that hurdle. But I knew that wasn’t an option, so there had to be a way. Again, my thoughts turned to Ben. What would he have done? I remembered that some of the men in Ben’s unit had remarked that he would never ask them to do anything he wouldn’t have done himself. I knew he wouldn’t have brought me this far to have me stuck at an obstacle that he didn’t believe I could surmount. So, I backed up and just did it. I am still not sure how, but I found myself up and over that ledge looking down. A personal victory for sure!
On the Summit we sat and shared our stories. We admired the beautiful view of God’s country, and we mentally prepared for the long hike down. After sharing what we knew about our Heroes, and having our moment of silence, the overall mood was lighter and a sense of accomplishment was clear. We had successfully honored our fallen soldiers! We learned more about each other on the way down, and ended our hike as friends and family.
The night we arrived at the Northeast Outdoor Center I was walking back to my cabin and saw a woman with a Gold Star name badge. I stopped to introduce myself. She told me she was Justin Buxbaum’s grandmother. I asked if I could give her a hug and then we parted ways both having other things to attend to.
As Team White stood lined up on the grass to return our stones to their families after the hike I knew Beth and Ken were not in attendance. I wondered which Gold Star family member would step forward to retrieve Ben’s stone. As I stepped forward to the microphone, David pointed across the grass to Cheryl, Justin Buxbaum’s grandmother. I said, “I knew I met you yesterday for a reason” as we hugged, and then I lovingly handed over Ben’s stone. Like old friends we parted ways, but I will never forget our experience. Ben’s memory will always be alive and well. #mhanf
To Beth and Ken: Thank you for raising such an amazing young man. I can only hope that my 5 year old son grows up with a desire to serve a purpose bigger than himself. If he exhibits the characteristics of honor, integrity and respect like Captain Keating I will feel accomplished as a parent. Thank you for sharing his life and story with The Summit Project so he could become a part of my life and story.
Thank you, Joelle, for your wonderful tribute. Ben was, indeed a very special young man (as were all the young men who gave their lives for our country). Memorial Day is always a particularly poignant time of remembrance for us as May 31 is Ben’s Birthday. Although we never have gone to the Summit Project hike that weekend we think of the climbers each year as they carry the stones and tell the stories. We appreciate so much the Summit Project’s desire to keep the memory of our loved ones alive.
I am glad you felt Ben’s encouragement as you climbed. He was that kind of guy. He loved the mountains and would never leave anyone behind. I cannot remember the number of times he reached down to pull me up over a particularly steep ledge (or pushed from behind if necessary).
Bless you and your family and may you have many hiking days together.
Beth Keating
Beautiful tribute, Joelle! It was an honor to have you on our team!
Thank you for sharing your loving and very humbling journey for TSP while sharing Capt. Keating’s inspiration to get you to the top! This is an amazing thing TSP does each year to honor Maine’s fallen heroes.
Dear family of Army 1LT Benjamin Keating, I want to express my deepest sympathies on the passing of Ben. Thank you for allowing us, the TSP family, to carry Ben’s stone and story. I had the honor and priviledge to learn about Ben on the morning of Sunday, August 13, 2017, as I prepared to take part in the Memorial 10K Ruck, in Gray, Maine. On my drive to the ruck, approximately 0600, I took the route that google advised, and as I was driving, I came upon a road that had been completely washed out, the road just ended, and I thought “wow, if I had been going too fast and missed the road closed sign, this could have ended a lot differently”. When I arrived at the ruck, I didn’t mention the road closure to anyone. I asked for a hero stone, and I was given Ben’s stone. After speaking to a couple of folks that had previously carried Ben’s stone on other events, I came to learn of how he died, driving, the road collapsing, and ultimately Ben’s vehicle overturnning. Such a tragedy, so young, such a loved young man with a bright future. I got goosebumps, and I still do, when I think of the road closure I came upon that morning, seeing the road washed out, and being told Ben’s story shortly after I arrived at the event. Ben will never be forgotten! Cherish the good memories, and smile when you think of him.
To the family and loved ones of Benjamin Keating,
I went on some beautiful winter hikes in Maine during February and March, 2017, and I was proud to honor Ben by carrying his tribute stone and sharing his life story with others.
Our first trip was 5 days in Baxter State Park, starting on February 18. We went from Abol Bridge to Roaring Brook for the first overnight, then to Chimney Pond for the next three nights. While there I introduced Ben to the eight others in our group, and also to many people on the trails. Everyone was glad to hear his story and that TSP is continuing to remember him. Ben accompanied me on some challenging routes on Mt. Katahdin, up the Cathedral Trail to Baxter Peak and across Knife Edge, including some technical climbing using ropes. The scenery was amazing, our total travel on this trip was about 40 miles, with about 10,000 feet of elevation gain and loss.
On February 28 Ben and I went to Madawaska, marked as one of the farthest four corners in the USA. We then continued to Fort Kent and met with another veteran of TSP, Alain Ouelette, who took us hiking up Lonesome Pine Trails.
Finally, on March 13 we started another 5 day trip to a different part of Baxter State Park with a different group of people, they were all very interested in hearing about Ben. This time we were based at Nesowadnehunk Campground. Our first hike was to the remote South Brother and Mt. Coe in very cold temperatures. We had hoped to also do North Brother and Fort Mountain but a blizzard started in the afternoon thanks to storm Stella, so we had to head back without doing the last two peaks, but it was still a long 18 mile day, with the last few hours hiking in intense wind and snow. The next day, the 20 inches of fresh snow kept us from hiking back to try for the far away North Brother and Fort, but we were (barely) able to break trail halfway up the beautiful Doubletop Mountain, then complete the ascent the following day. Our total travel on this trip was about 42 miles, with about 12,000 feet of elevation gain and loss.
Learning about Ben’s life was inspiring: his faith, his distinguished accomplishments in school and in the Army, and his goal of becoming a lawyer. I’m so glad I spent this time with Ben, I know this is the type of terrain that he loved. Please enjoy the enclosed photos.
Respectfully,
Doug Comstock
I was introduced to Cpt. Keating through The Summit Project walk on 9/11/2017. We hiked from the Portland campus of the University of Southern Maine to the Gorham campus. During this 9.4 mile walk that I have driven countless times, I had plenty of moments to reflect on Cpt. Keatingâs life and my own.
To carry the stones of the fallen on 9/11 is significant in a lot of ways. The date itself often represents the impetus for some my fellow hikers joining the military. Itâs hard not to reflect on the fact that the events of 9/11 resulted in many of our fallen needing a stone to be carried in the first place. People felt the weights of the stones they carried in their hearts as well as their hands.
Iâm not a veteran myself, but my brother is. I enjoyed learning about the similarities between these two fine men. My brother joined the Navy at 27, the same age Cpt. Keating was when he died. All of the things Cpt. Keating enjoyed â being outside, hiking beautiful mountains, visiting Maineâs beaches â are things my brother loves. While heâs originally from and currently lives in North Carolina, my brother hopes to make Maine his home very soon. Iâll be sure to take him to Kennebunk Beach and tell him about Cpt. Keating.
It has been my honor to get to know Cpt. Keating, if only a little, on a glorious September day in Maine. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of his continued legacy. This is a day I won’t soon forget.
ashley
To the family of Captain Keating:
In my years participating with The Summit Project I have never questioned the way it works. I have come to know that the random stone assignments, the team composition, the weather and conditions are perfect and exactly as they are meant to be. So I knew when I was reassigned the stone of Captain Benjamin D. Keating, for the second year in a row at the Baxter State Park hike, that there was a reason.
In the year that has passed since I first carried Captain Keatingâs stone up the Owl Trail I read the book âThe Outpostâ by Jake Tapper. I struggled with the book and it took me longer than typical to get through as I frequently stopped to contemplate just what I was reading. For those whoâve read it, you will understand what I mean. So many questions linger still about why Able Troop, 3-71 Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was even there to begin with. Shortly after our stone assignments this year I mentioned on Facebook that I was finally finished after almost a year! A longtime friend of mine from southern Maine mentioned she was friends with someone referenced in the book: Captain Matt Gooding, Troop Commander. She said he was open and more than willing to discuss with me what he knew of his First Lieutenant and Troop Executive Officer (second in command under Captain Gooding). I knew this was the piece I was meant to place into the puzzle this year. It was the connection to Ben that I had missed last time around.
From the moment that Captain Gooding answered the phone it was clear that he respected and thought very highly of his second in command and his friend. I was humbled to listen to Matt speak about their time together in Kamdesh and I listened intently. I learned that Ben was heartfelt and reflective. That he valued personal relationships and put a lot of effort into the ones he developed. He needed to know where he stood with people and didnât like to leave things unresolved. He finished what he started. He thought more about the impact that his actions had on others vs how his actions might affect himself. Ben was a forgiving man and he knew that men are imperfect. I learned that Ben saw the Army as a temporary stepping stone to bigger things. He viewed his time in Afghanistan as part of his job and made the most of it by focusing on the task at hand and completing the jobs as they were received. Matt told me he knew Benâs future was bright after the Army. He believed Ben would likely attend law school and eventually run for higher office. I learned that Ben would not ask his men to do anything he wasnât willing to do himself, and that he would stand behind them even if the mission did not go as planned as long as theyâd done as they were asked. He was a man of integrity and deep faith. I also learned that Ben lived the kind of life, and was the kind of man, that Matt Gooding felt worthy of passing on to his own son, whom he named Benjamin.
I asked Matt if he thought there was anything that I could do that would honor Ben and who he was in a way that would make him proud. Matt said to honor family and truly think about how we live each day. When we hiked up Owl this year, on Team Red, I thought about these directives a lot. I thanked Ben for allowing me to better understand how truly precious this time on Earth is. As we sat atop Owl and spoke about our heroes I felt truly honored to have been able to come to know a bit about this man from someone who truly valued Benâs place in his life. I carry a quote written on a ragged slip of paper in my wallet that I took from âThe Outpostâ almost a year ago. Ben said in a letter home, âI know that when I get home, these stories are from just one chapter in a life that I will continues to use in meaningful ways.â Once again, I am truly humbled and honored to carry the stone and story of Captain Benjamin D. Keating and I will continue to remember his life and service and allow his words to guide me in a better and more meaningful life of my own. – Joelle
Hi Joelle
Thank you for honoring Ben by carrying his stone and for your wonderful tribute. Ben was a wonderful young man who touched the lives of so many during his brief life. We are so blessed having had him for the 27 years he was with us.
Our familyâs favorite place on earth is Acadia. We spent at least one week (often 2 or 3) camping there every summer. We have bikes every carriage road and climbed every trail countless times. It holds a special place in our hearts.
Ken and I do not often participate in Summit Project activities, though we are very appreciative of all that Dave and his wonderful team do to remember and honor those who have given their lives for our country. We have amazing support from our family and our church family and who join us in remembering Ben every day. We realize that not everyone is so fortunate and that the hikes and other events that honor and remember the fallen offer great support and comfort.
Thank you for taking the extra effort to learn more about Ben. The Outpost is a tough read but Jake did a great job getting to know the young men who were killed at Kamdesh. We appreciate his interest in Ben and the trouble he took to learn more about him from letters and emails he wrote home. Every time someone tells the story of the sacrifice our young men and women make and that military families make, we hope there will be a greater appreciation for the amazing young men and women who voluntarily serve in our military.
Thank you so much for helping to spread the word. And thanks for taking care of Ben.
Beth Keating
It has been an honor and a privilege to carry Ben’s stone and share his story. <3
On Saturday the 15th, 2018 I carried Benjamin D. Keating to the summit of Mt Katahdin. When our outing club teacher, Mr. Kurr brought up the summit project, I didn’t know what to think about it. However when I learned more about the project I wanted to participate to show my respect for Ben and his family. To me as a 14-year-old boy, I felt a lot of meaning and honor to carry Ben to the summit of the mountain. When our group took breaks, I would take the time and I would think about what Ben did. I would think about all of the noble sacrifices and actions that he had done to serve our country. After going through and reading the previous stories about other people carrying Ben. I can say that he was a good friend, son and a good person. I want to share my thoughts on the summit trip and how the experience changed my view on a lot of things. Thank you for the opportunity.
Sincerely Matt Fournier, Gray-New Gloucester high school.
29 September 2018: It was my honor to carry the stone for Benjamin Keating to the summit of Cadillac mountain.
That day, Benjamin Keating’s memory was my responsibility. Carrying his stone, I was reminded of the sacrifice made by our service members, and the ultimate sacrifice he made. He chose to serve. He gave his life for this country. He was a hero.
He will never return to Maine. He will never walk along Kennebunk beach with his family and feel the cold waves. He will never again gaze upon the beauty or hike Mt Washington.
But his memory will remain here. Each time his stone chooses a steward, his story is researched and shared with more and more people, keeping his memory alive.
It was a privilege to participate in the Summit Project, to learn about Benjamin and share his story.
My employer participated in the summit project and I carried the stone for Benjamin today. We walked down a trail system in South Portland, Maime that runs along a small river. . I couldnt help to have found similarities between Benjamin and myself- from our age, to his love for the outdoors and nature. I thought back to when I considered trying to go into the military- which I never followed through with. I dont really know how to put this into words- as the experience of carrying someone who fought for America and protected me- was emotional. I felt a bond with Benjamin, he was there with us while we walked, I believe. I will carry what I learned today for the rest of my life.
Love,
Alex
Dear Mrs. Keating
On 13 July 2019 Cub Scout Pack 202 took your son on a short hike on the Cathance River Nature Preservesâ Heath Loop. The hike was a ž loop around a heath (an expanse of shrub growth in acidic soil). While on the trail we not only learned what a heath was but also had the opportunity to see an abandoned Formica mine. The Scouts practiced reading trail markers and had the opportunity to see local flora and fauna that they might not have seen. We walked to the scenic overview and passed the stone around to the cub scouts (aged 5-9). My son read aloud the card and the cubs took a moment to discuss the importance of remembrance and reflection and thanks.
This hike was done as part of the packs Summertime Achievement Award and we all would like to express our gratitude for the opportunity to take your son on the hike with us to enjoy nature as he used to.
V/R
Cub Scout Pack 202
The Keating Family- I found out about the Summit Project from my NCOIC in the Air National Guard. He had carried stones on several Summit Project events so we talked it over and decided to organize a hike to get other people in our unit involved. This past week, 17 members of the 101st ARW carried 17 stones on a hike to the head waters of Gulf Hagus in Brownville, Maine. I had the honor of carrying your sonâs stone. Like your son, I grew up hiking in the White Mountains and I think that he would have enjoyed the trails that led up to the head waters. We stopped at different spots along the river to talk about our fallen servicemen, I waited till we reached the actually head waters where the three rivers meet before talking about Cpt Keating. It was a beautiful spot, I wish he could have seen it. Before we went on our hike, I did some reading about your son. It was then that I realized that it was your son who is used as an example when we teach classes about leadership and duty. His actions at Kamdesh displayed what a true leader is; placing the lives of his men before his own. His sacrifice will not be forgotten. As new airmen come into the service, we will continue to talk about him and his actions, so that they know what they should be trying to aspire to.
Dear Beth and Ken,
On September 28, 2019 I was honored with the privilege to carry the stone and story of Army Captain Benjamin Keating up Cadillac Mountain In Acadia National Park.
Saturday as the hike started we quickly realized we would have perfect weather for hiking, warm mid 60’s with a cooling breeze and not much of a cloud in the sky. We hiked the steep granite faced trail up Dorr Mountain, then down into a ravine and up the final ascent up to the summit of Cadillac. The ravine is very steep on both sides. Big bold granite rocks formed irregular foot holds, often followed with a bald face then alternating again. Climbing down into the ravine is actually more challenging than the climb up. The difficulty of the terrain was not lost upon me.
Ben’s stone although light to carry, has weighed very heavy upon me. As I write this it still does. I am saddened by the loss of the potential of such a great leader. I have tried to incorporate some of Ben’s leadership style into my own life over these past weeks. I believe his style suits me.
I want to thank Beth for responding to my emails. These responses allowed me to see more of Beth’s boy Ben and Not just Army Ben. On Saturday after the hike I got cheeseburgers, Sunday I enjoyed seafood but still need to have scallops (Ben’s favorite) , anytime I hear “Somewhere over the Rainbow” (especially by IZ) I will think of Ben. There are so many conversations I wish I could have with Ben.
Thank you, Thank TSP, and Thank God that I am given the opportunity to do this. I am gladdened to get to know Ben just a little. He will always be remembered and will continue to make a difference.
Chris Lanigan
TSP @ ANP Team Tarn 2019
MHANF
I’m so sorry for your loss.
I picked Ben’s stone to carry with me at the Husky Ruck (2019) last year. It has taken me a while to write but it doesn’t mean Ben (and your family) have not been in my thoughts. Since the Ruck, I selected a song “I will always remember you young” by Chris Haas to be Ben’s song. I go the extra mile for Ben, especially when I really don’t feel like it. When his song makes it’s way though my play list I’m inspired to think of him and what he may have been like (it definitely keep me company on the long runs). Thinking of the sacrifice he and your family has made helps me to focus on what’s really important, and the value of embracing life, everyday.
I’m participating in the Ruck again this year and hopefully Ben’s stone will go with me again!
Thank you for sharing Ben with me,
Christine Caruso
I served with Ben in Kamdesh and would like to get in touch to offer my condolences.
Dear Col. McHenry,
We have been a little remiss in the frequency with which we check the TSP site. If this finds you, we would love to hear from you
This Memorial Day weekend, May 24-25 2020, I participated in my first Ruck to Remember, and I had the honor of taking a turn carrying Cpt. Benjamin Keatingâs Tribute Stone. Our team, Outpost: Bourne, hiked along the Cape Cod Canal the first day and through Massachusetts National Cemetery the second day. Along the way, we paused to tell the moving and heartbreaking stories of the fallen heroes whose stones we carried. Benâs story particularly touched meâan outstanding young man who lived out his faith, courageously served his country, and genuinely cared about people. Ben was of the same generation as my children. I think about what an extraordinary person he must have been to have sacrificed the pleasures his peers enjoyed to go halfway around the world to serve his country and fight terrorism. And I canât imagine how extraordinarily difficult it was for you his parents to watch him go, and then how excruciating to lose him. I am grateful that we have Enduring Freedom because of people like him who laid down their lives, and I also honor you his family who have suffered this unbearable loss. I want to learn more about Cpt. Keating, so I have put The Outpost on my reading list. God bless you and keep you in His loving arms.
I just watched the movie “The Outpost” and would like to express my deepest condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones in this action! Their bravery will not go in vain, while we who benefited from their outstanding courage will forever remember them.
Eternally grateful to all servicemen and women of the US.
Greetings from KOSOVO.
God bless the United States of America…
My name is LuĂs A Garcia, Retire Military. I current reside in Puerto Rico. Last night I watch âThe Outpostâ I never knew CPT Keating, but I was a case manager at CMAOC Casualty & Mortuary Affairs Operations Center. I personally handle his 15-6 investigation to conduct a detailed report of that fatal Day we lost a good soldier, a good son and a good brother in arms. I had the pleasure to meet his parents that day! Last night I saw his photo at the end of the movie and remember him but the funny thing was that the photo in the movie itâs cut up (on the real photo CPT Keating itâs holding some fishes he got near by the outpost since he like fishing) I saw the real photo at his parents home in Maine. RIP Brother In Arms. LuĂs Garcia 410-978-1297
Then you most remember the female interpreter.
I never forgot FOB Kamdesh itâs cold Each and every solder. Lots love to all and always stay in my prayers
I was with 3-71 cav Alfa troop from 07-11 and his picture hangs proudly in the hallway for all to see they talked about him then and some off the guys i talk today still talk about him sadly I didnot get to serve with this great solider sorry for your loss
Dear family and friends of Captain Keating,
For TSP ANP hike, I was assigned to carry the tribute stone and story of your son and friend to the summit with Team Kebo. On Saturday, September 26, 2020, the weather at ANP could not have been any more perfect than it was. I carefully placed the stone in my pack and worried the whole time that I would not do his story justice. Captain Keatingâs stone is small yet beautiful and weighed heavy on my heart. Whenever we stopped during the hike, I ensured to carefully take his stone out of my pack to get pictures in spots that I felt were beautiful/peaceful. I rehearsed his story based on bio (and obituary that I found) over and over again. When we reached the summit to share, I feel that I did not do him the justice he deserved. I thank Captain Keating for his commitment to his family, friends, service and sacrifice to our Country in the U.S. Army.
Very Respectively,
Lisa Martel
Dear Ken, Beth and Jess-
Time flies, many years have past, and we still think of Ben often. Memories of our childhood friendship are still so vivid in our minds and to this day make us smile. Ben was very special to us and we miss him dearly.
While remembering Ben, I came across The Summit Project and was instantly drawn to the idea of paying tribute to Ben by hiking his stone. I shared this idea with Eric and he agreed that he too felt a strong desire to honor Ben in this way. At the time, Eric wasnât sure he was able to commit, as he didnât know how the uncertainties of Covid times would impact his business. I decided to join The Summit Project alone with the hopes that Eric would be able to join me. Thankfully this turned out to be the case.
Before Memorial Day weekend, Eric took a red-eye from Seattle, Washington, I flew from Grand Rapids, Michigan and we met in Boston. We rented a car and drove up to Kennebunk, Maine to meet up with you, Ken and Beth. We were excited at the thought of our reunion after all these years. When we saw the two of you standing in the parking lot of The Maine Diner, our hearts smiled and we were filled with a sense of comfort. Eric and I had a wonderful time catching up with you both. We truly enjoyed conservations about our present lives, reminiscing about all the great memories we had of you all, The First Baptist Church of Springvale and most importantly, Ben. We spoke of many fond memories, from church camping trips, canoe trips and visiting at each otherâs homes to Sunday School, BYF, working the Serecco Booth at the Acton Fair and for me, getting baptized with Ben.
Thank you for leading us to Kennebunk Beach, where you chose Benâs original memorial stone for The Summit Project years ago. We appreciate you helping us choose a replica granite stone similar in size and shape as the original. We know Kennebunk Beach was one of Benâs favorite places to go. We also know that you have been blessed with many fond memories there, such as Ben and Jess playing on the beach and Beth, your last special walk with Ben. We had a wonderful reunion with you both, one that we will never forget.
After saying our goodbyes in Kennebunk, Eric and I drove to Acadia National Park. We camped overnight at Blackwoods Campground in Otter Creek. We woke the next morning to a rainy day, which stumped our plan to go on a short hike. Instead, we drove the Park Loop Road along the coastline, admiring the beautiful, rocky coast of Maine. We stopped at Sand Beach and appreciated the peaceful, cove-style beach nestled between mountains and rocky shores. We then continued to Thunder Hole, which as you know is the natural rock inlet where waves crash with a thunderous boom and high-flying foam when the oceanâs tide is high. Unfortunately, the tide was low for us that day and we didnât get to experience the thunder of the sea against the rocky shores. Finally, we attempted to drive up Mount Cadillac, but unfortunately werenât able. We didnât realize that reservations were required ahead of time according to Covid protocols and we were limited on time. Regardless of the weather conditions and limitations, we thought of Ben as we enjoyed our relaxing drive and views of Acadia, for we know that it was one of his favorite places on Earth. We also know that you would go to Acadia as a family every year to camp, bike and hike and that it holds a very special place in your hearts.
Next, Eric and I drove up to Baxter State Park, our final destination and home of Mt. Katahdin. In Millinocket, we stopped at a convenience store and borrowed a sharpie marker to write Benâs initials, Army rank and birth/death date on the replica stone we had chosen together from Kennebunk Beach. We then reached our campsite at Abol Campground. Our first night, the black flies were wicked, but it didnât stop us from setting up camp, cooking an amazing dinner (ok, Eric cooked, not me, haha), hanging out at the campfire and hiking a short (.8-mile) midnight hike to Little Abol Falls. During our late night hike, Eric and I shared with one another many great childhood memories involving Ben. We also shared what we had learned about Benâs time in the Army and the man that he became over the years. It was no surprise to us that in the Army, Ben was a selfless leader, a strong role model and had courage and bravery while serving our country. He valued personal relationships and enjoyed counseling and empowering those around him. Needless to say, it is still surreal that Ben is not here and we have a lot of mixed emotions.
Sunday morning came and we prepared for our hike up Mt. Katahdin. We were excited. We knew Ben would have loved to hike up with us, but we knew he would be there with us in spirit. Eric fired up his camp stove and made us some great-tasting coffee, we fueled up with some breakfast and then packed up. Our plan was to hike Abol Trail to Hunt Trail up to Baxter Peak, which is the Summit of Katahdin. Abol Trail is a steep and extremely rocky 3.4-mile trail. Sections of the trail require hand-over-foot climbing over boulders. Abol Trail leads to Hunt Trail, which is 1-mile from the Summit of Katahdin. Our total Katahdin Summit trip would be 8.8-miles round trip.
The weather varied over the course of the day. It started out overcast in the morning at the start of the hike, which was perfect weather for hiking through the woods. Then the sun came out when we got above tree line and while we scrambled up the steep rock field. It was windy and chilly as we finished up the last mile of the hike on Hunt Trail leading up to the summit. It was during this last mile that Ericâs quads started to cramp up on him and the balls of my feet felt like they were on fire. It was a tough hike, tougher than we thought it would be. When we started to struggle, we thought of Ben and it gave us the energy and strength to continue onwardâŚpacing ourselves, one step in front of the other. Ben was there with us in spirit. As we approached the summit, we passed a handful of hikers descending and exchanged friendly hellos despite our physical discomfort. Finally, we laid eyes on the summit and picked up our pace against the cold, zipping wind. We had made it. We had summited Mt. Katahdin, May 30th, 2021.
At the summit, we were amazed by the view all around us and thought of Ben being there with us, sharing this unforgettable experience with us. We took pictures to share with you and our family and friends, so that this special day may be remembered for years to come.
There was a young man on the summit just before us. He had âcasuallyâ hiked the Knife Edge Trail solo wearing shorts, a hooded sweatshirt and slip-on sandals. There is no doubt that this young man was hardcore and we liked this. As you know, the traverse across Knife Edge is tough and requires focus and agility, and some spots are as narrow as four feet, with 2,000-foot drops on either side. We paid tribute to Ben by sharing his story with this young man. He expressed his appreciation and gratitude and shared that he had just gotten out of the Marines. He then asked us how old we thought he was. Eric guessed 25 years old and the young man replied, âWow, youâre close. I turn 25 tomorrow.â We instantly got chills and shared with the young man that Benâs birthday was tomorrow as well, that he would have been 42 years old.
The clouds were rolling in more and the sky was getting darker. The young man said he was going to get going before the storm came in. This cued us to get going as well, for we knew we had to scramble down some pretty steep boulders before getting safely below tree line. We knew descending down those boulders in the rain would be dangerous and not worth the risk if we could avoid it, so we said goodbye to the young man and quickly ate a snack, put on layers and packed up for our descent. We glanced over to the young man who had begun hiking down Knife Edge and could barely see him on the trail. He had hiked away so unbelievably quickly. We looked for him again seconds later and he had completely vanished. We smiled and thought of Ben being there with us.
We carefully made it down the rock scramble and below tree line before it started to sprinkle. We made it down the mountain in perfect time before it began to rain hard just as we entered our campsite. The hike took us eight hours round trip. It was worth every bead of sweat, every muscle cramp, every throbbing foot and every ounce of energy. Needless to say, we slept well that night.
We woke Memorial Day morning, Benâs birthday, and packed up our campsite. We headed south towards Boston. We were disappointed that our timeline didnât allow us to stop and visit with you at your home. It would have been nice to share our hike with you in person and say hello to Jess.
We miss Ben, but we are thankful to have been blessed with such a special friend. We will never forget the way he made us laugh with his sarcastic, witty remarks, Chris Farley impersonations and straight face. When Ben spoke, he was respected and people listened. Benâs mind was sharp, filled with wisdom and drive and he wasnât afraid to give his opinion and stand up for what he believed in. His heart was big, filled with kindness, love and compassion. We always felt safe and protected around Ben. He was devoted to family and loved you all so very deeply. His love of God and his desire to spread goodness in this world was great. He was not only a good friend, but also a role model, someone we looked up to, someone we always enjoyed being around. Ben is a friend who will forever hold a special place in our hearts. He is a friend we will never forget.
It was our honor and privilege to carry our friend, Captain Benjamin D. Keatingâs memorial stone on this adventure and share through our lens his story. This tribute to Ben was an experience of a lifetime that we will never forget. Ben made a huge impact on those around him and touched the lives of so many. He made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and for that we are grateful. It is our hope that by sharing Benâs story, there is a greater sense of appreciation for all those who serve in the military to protect our country. It is also our hope that through sharing our story, Ben will live on and continue to be an inspiration to the world. Thank you again for being a part of our tribute to Ben. We hope to cross paths with you all sometime soon. Until then, best wishes to you all.
Love,
Jeana & Eric
Jeana and Eric, what a wonderful tribute to Ben. We thought of you all day as you were hiking and were so thankful when we heard you had made your descent safely. We cannot express how special it was that you both honored Ben. You were such great friends and it was a joy watching you and Jess and Ben grow up together. What a joy to se you again and see the very special young adults you have become. Thank you for honoring Ben. We love you both. Beth
Dear Keating Family,
My name is Dan Hayden and during the recent TSP event at Acadia National Park I had the honor of carrying your son’s memorial stone and telling his story. As you know we were unable to summit Cadillac Mountain due to the weather but did hike into Echo Lake. The beach at Echo Lake was a beautiful setting to pass on the information I had learned about Benjamin.
You are an amazing family to have raised a man that demonstrated such a high level of courage, honor, and integrity. These are traits that are only learned over time by sharing close contact with individuals that exhibit similar values. I will use Benjamin’s story as a lesson to my own sons, that it is possible to be respected as a leader if they are willing to live a life of integrity and sacrifice for others.
Respectfully,
Dan
It was an honor to carry the stone and share the story of your son. He was an honorable man.
It was a beautiful day and I was with a great group of people. Thank you again for allowing me to learn about him.
I had the honor and privilege to carry Capt. Benjamin Keatings stone during the 2023 TSP at BSP. There is a lot of information about Capt. Keatingâs service online. I love sharing Capt. Keatings story of his service but also of him as a young man. His mom, Beth, shared with me that he was a man deep in faith. He taught Sunday School. He would mentor or find mentors for at risk youth. How he would light up a room when he entered. He was like a neon light. He loved to be just one of the guys. He didnât need to be referred to by his title outside of the service. He was just Ben.
Ben loved to hike in the White Mtns and in Acadia National Park. The day I read that about him, I had just hiked Champlain Mtn and the Beehive trail in ANP. I also read he liked to golf with his dad, Ken. I too like to golf and I love the beach which he shared with his mom. They say the stone picks you, and I believe this to be true.
Sady Capt. Keatingâs life was cut short when he died in Kamdesh, Afghanistan. When the vehicle he was transported rolled down a cliff. He was so respected and honored by his company that PRT Kamdesh was renamed Combat Outpost Keating (CO Keating).
Capt. Keating had so much more to give in this world, that I feel it is our mission now to carry his story but to also to live our lives in a way to make him proud.
I am so sorry that Ben was taken too soon from you: Ken, Beth and Jessica, and for all those who loved him. I hope to someday meet his family. Until then I will carry his story with those I meet and in my heart.
France Morneault
I had the honor and privilege to carry Capt. Benjamin Keating’s stone up Cadillac Mt. It was my first time at Acadia and I can see why it was one of his favorite places in Maine. Sharing his story while hearing the stories of other fallen heroes made the whole experience something I will forever cherish. Last week I went back to Acadia with my wife and while I was not carrying his stone, I did have his memory in my mind. I am sorry for your loss Beth. Jessica and Ken.
Dear Keating Family,
On Sunday, June 23rd, I had the honor and privilege of running the Greater Bangor Marathon carrying your sonâs stone. It was not my first marathon, but it was my first one running with a stone and the fastest one I have yet to run.
The morning started off cloudy and cool. I did my pre-marathon routine, except this time I had Ben there with me. I carefully placed him in my running pack, headed to the start and like that we were off. The first thirteen miles flew by, they are always the easiest. The race started to thin out and the geography was rural. It was a push to keep a steady pace with nobody around. But as I ran I thought of Ben and his sacrifice. I was not going to give up. Then suddenly the rain began. It was a long and wet push to the finish, but I could feel him there, helping me along. Pushing me to finish this race strong.
I read a lot about Ben and I wish I had the opportunity to have known him. He sounds like such an amazing man. Kind and wanting to help others. Deep in his faith. I enjoy your story on his love for Kennebunk Beach. I have been there many times and can see why he loved it. I will forever be grateful that I had the chance to pass along his story and keep his memory alive. I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity and I look forward to the next time I get to run with him again, it was such an honor.
Hello Keating family.
My wife and I attended the Fryberg fair on Wednesday the 2nd. Nether of us had heard of TSP. We happened upon their booth and met Pete. After talking with him at length about the program I find myself captivated by the warm and welcoming eyes and infectious smile of your son Benjamin. As I walked out of the building where the booth was clinging to the fabric bag with American flags on it, I am filled with a great feeling of responsibility. Not that I would lose or damage this stone but I felt that I needed to show him a good time. But i also felt great pride that I am in the presence of a national treasure. As we made our way around the fair grounds I spent a lot of time wondering what Benjamin would want to see. So I would stay a little long in places that I thought he would find interesting, for example the draft horses or the old and new tractors. Or the historic American flag with 48 stars. As we returned to the TSP booth at the end of the day I was filled with deep emotions because much like you, I wanted more time with him. I look forward to future adventures as I am hoping to participate in next year’s motorcycle ride to Baxter.
May God bless you and keep you until you are reunited. Dan