Lead the Way Fund, Inc. is a non-profit organization established to raise funds in support of disabled U.S. Army Rangers and the families of Rangers who have died, have been injured or are currently serving in harm’s way around the world. Lead the Way Fund, Inc. will provide spouses and children of deceased, disabled or active duty Rangers with assistance for health and wellness programs and other services determined to be vital to the family’s well-being.
Cpl.Benjamin C. Dillon, 22, was a gun team leader assigned to 3 rd Battalion, 75 th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga. He was born on Sept. 9, 1985, in Rootstown, Ohio.
He was killed on Oct. 7, 2007, while engaged in combat operations against known enemies of the United States of America in Northern Iraq. He was a veteran of operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.
After graduating Southeast High School in Edinburg, Ohio, Dillon enlisted in the Army from his hometown of Rootstown, Ohio, in September 2004 and completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning as an infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course there, he was assigned to the Ranger Indoctrination Program also at Fort Benning.
He graduated from the Ranger Indoctrination Program in March 2005 and was then assigned to 3 rd Bn., 75 th Ranger Regiment. He served there as a rifleman, grenadier, automatic rifleman, machine gunner and gun team leader. His last assignment was as a gun team leader.
Dillon’s awards and decorations include Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with V Device, the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.
He is survived by his parents Terry and Linda Dillon, and brothers Nicholas and Steven all of Rootstown.
As a Ranger, Cpl Benjamin C. Dillon distinguished himself as a member of the Army’s premier lightinfantry unit, traveled to all corners of the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism, and fought valiantly to “uphold the prestige, honor, and high ‘esprit de corps’” of the Ranger Regiment.
