Thirty-two years old. He should still be here. Today, we remember Ben Ransom, who passed away three years ago on October 17, 2023, after a long, hard-fought battle with #Leukemia. 🧡 Ben served as an Infantryman for nearly a decade, completing three combat tours in Afghanistan and becoming an #Airborne jumpmaster. He gave so much of his young life to serving this country. And there was so much more life he deserved to live. If you knew Ben, you remember his smile. His sense of humor, his humility, and his ability to make you feel like you mattered. You remember the CrossFit workouts with Iron Forged, the encouragement he gave others, and the conversations over a shared meal that you wished could last a little longer. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, and a friend. He adored his nieces and nephews. He loved punk rock, playing guitar and bass, and sharing music with his friends, who cared for him through his cancer battle and held his hand as he took his last breath. These are the things we need to remember when we talk about military cancer. The person. The family. The life still being built. The decades they should have had together. Our young men and women deserve better. They deserve to have their concerns heard, their symptoms taken seriously, and their care prioritized. Being young, fit, and strong should never be a reason to dismiss the possibility that something is wrong. Early detection needs to be a priority while there is still an opportunity to act. That means listening, investigating persistent symptoms, and making sure someone gets answers and timely care. We cannot keep waiting for another young service member’s death to remind us how much this matters. We cannot rewrite Ben’s story. But we can honor him in how we care for those still here. Three years later, Ben, you are deeply missed. By the people who served beside you, the friends who shared your music and laughter, and the family who should have had so many more years with you. It was an absolute honor to know you, Ben. - @ravenhawk.echo