The boy’s mother found Ryan Wise sitting with the large picture of his father in the corner of a room and snapped what may become one of the most iconic photo’s of our time.
Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Wise, 34 of Little Rock Arkansas was a Special Forces soldier and father of three. He was severely injured during an operation in Afghanistan in January of 2012. He was hospitalized but died a week later from his wounds.
A website dedicated to the Wise family says
Ben’s older brother Jeremy Wise was killed 2009 in an attack on a CIA base in Afghanistan. Jeremy was a former Navy Seal but was working as a security contractor.
“The assignment in Afghanistan was part of Wise's fourth deployment overseas, and was in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.”
Another Wise brother, Marine Corps Cpl. Matthew Wise, is based in Hawaii.
The family hasn't commented but the website In Honor of Benjamin Wise ends with this quote.
"We sleep soundly in our beds at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would do us harm". - Winston Churchill