Cpt Benjamin Joseph “BJ” Ronk

December 26th marks the anniversary of the passing of Cpt Benjamin Joseph “BJ” Ronk. US Army, 42, We honor and remember him, his family, and his mother Belinda Jividen of Kenova WV. 

He was born Feb 16, 1973. He passed away on December 26, 2015, in Clarksville, Tenn.

Benjamin went to grade and high school in Ceredo Kenova where he was known as BJ, although he graduated from Seaside High School in California. 

Over a period marking nearly 25 years, Captain Ronk served his country in varying capacities in uniform. He served eight years in Active Duty as an enlisted soldier, earning the rank of Sergeant, from 1991 to 1999. Through his enlistment he served as a Satellite Communications System Operator-Maintainer in various assignments, including a tour with the White House Office. 

Benjamin commissioned as a warrant officer in 1999 after being selected to attend the Rotary Wing Aviator Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama, serving another 12 years and seven months Active Duty from 1999 to 2012 as a UH-60 Pilot. During this time, he successfully completed the UH-60 Instructor Pilot Course (2004) to become an instructor pilot at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. 

Benjamin attended the Physician Assistant Course and Army Flight Surgeon Primary Course in 2012 before commissioning as a First Lieutenant to serve his first assignment as a medical provider at 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He completed his career as the 501st Area Support Medical Company Treatment Platoon Physician Assistant with the 86th Combat Support Hospital. 

His current term of service was to expire in March 2016. During these periods of service, overseas and temporary duty locations included: Korea (1993-1994 and 2001-2002); Afghanistan, "Operation Enduring Freedom" (2002-2003); Iraq, "Operation Iraqi Freedom" (2004-2005 and 2005-2006); and Liberia, "Operation United Assistance" (2015). 

Benjamin’s mother Belinda Jividen of Kenova, West Virginia stated, “He was my baby and I’ve always been proud of him but even more so when his best friend who flew with him in Afghanistan said Benjamin would land his helicopter in places no one else would go ‘because he wasn’t leaving anyone behind.”

“Benjamin was getting ready to retire in three months after serving 25 years when he died. He lived in Clarksville, TN. He loved playing the guitar and anything to do with music. He could hear a tune and pick it out by ear. He also loved camping and kayaking with his son, Dylan. He was also a very good cook (I have his recipes but can’t bring myself to use them yet). Benjamin liked to surprise me, coming home to visit without telling me, buying me a beautiful necklace he picked out himself for my 60th. He would look at me with a look of love when I called him my baby (never got upset when I did.) He loved to see Dylan & me playing or just being together. He called Tennessee home.” 

Shared by his mother, Belinda:

“When he first told me that he was going to join the army, I wasn’t happy,” said his mother, Belinda Jividen. “I wasn’t happy, but through the years I felt like that it was probably a good thing that he had joined.” When the war in Iraq started, he was in one of the first units that went over to the conflict. “He was one of the first ones that went over as a medevac helicopter pilot. And every day I prayed, and I said, Lord, I’m no different than any other mother, and he’s no different than any other child but he’s mine,” she said.

“It’s important to remember and to teach our children that freedom is not free. People give their lives so that we can do what we’re doing now, and he is one of those. I couldn’t be prouder of him. He accomplished a lot in his life, and I just want to honor him,” she said. 

Honoring the fallen by keeping their memories and legacies alive is now her mission as a Gold Star mother. “As a Gold Star mother, we have a saying. A person dies twice, the first-time physical death and the second time when no one says their name. So, I’m going to tell you that I am the proud mother of Captain Benjamin Joseph Ronk,” she said.

Besides his mother, this gallant soldier is missed by his father Joseph Ronk, his son Dylan James Ronk, and many other relatives and friends who loved him.

Let us always remember him and….

Say His Name

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