TODD, BENJAMIN

Ben H. Todd was born on October 04, 1979 in Colville Washington to Alan B. Wiley and Marti Todd. Ben lived in Orient, WA until the age of ten when his family moved to Colville where he would go on to graduate from Colville High School in 1997. Ben grew up the oldest of three brothers, love riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers, played high school football and joined the local Search and Rescue unit as a teenager. He told family those search and rescue skills helped after he joined the Army in 1999 and went into training to be a Ranger. 

 CW2 Todd initially enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 22, 1999 and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia where he would become a Ranger and serve two tours in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, including his first tour shortly after September 11, 2001. CW2 Todd applied for and was selected to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he began his helicopter pilot training. CW2 Todd found his love of flying at the age of 9, when he flew in his father’s gyrocopter and ultra-light plane, and according to his family friend Terry Williams, “the exhilaration of being in the air stayed with him”. Upon graduation from flight school in June 2007, CW2 Todd was stationed at Fort Drum, New York where he flew the OH-58 Kiowa helicopter with Bravo Troop “Pale Riders”, 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, of the 10th Mountain Division.  

While home on leave in 2004, Ben met Shelly Gordon at a New Year’s Eve Party. Their budding love led to a four-month courtship and marriage on April 29, 2005 at the V.F.W. Legion Hall in Colville followed by a honeymoon in Disney World. Shelly enjoyed time with their dogs and sharing Friday “date nights” with dinner and a movie. Their love blessed them with a daughter Ashlyn Joy in April of 2008. 

CW2 Todd deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on October 20, 2008. On 26 January 2009, CW2 Todd died, along with three other pilots, as the result of a helicopter crash. CW2 Todd was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously for acts of valor in combat. 

He was a young man defined by his loyalty to God, family, and country. He is a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, grandson, friend, and hero who will be greatly missed. 

Ben is survived by his wife Shelly Todd and their daughter Ashlyn; mother, Marti Todd; father, Alan Wiley; brother Nick Todd and wife Betty and their son Noah; brother Daniel Todd; grandmother Joyce Todd-McPhee; uncles Bob Todd, Tom Todd and wife Patti, Jim Todd and wife Linda; step-aunt, Heather Ruskievicz and husband Steve; parents-in-law John and June Gordon; siblings-in-law Shannon Gordon, Colville, Lance Gordon and wife Laurie, Kelly Gordon and wife, Rebecca, Sharon Schneider and husband, Michael,; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins; and trusted family dog, Cheyenne 

The Washington State Fallen Heroes Project proudly remembers CW2 Ben Todd for his service, sacrifice, and commitment to our nation. Our hope is that his life continues to inspire all who learn his story.