Marine Corps Capt. Benjamin W. Sammis, 29, a career Marine who was killed in action during Operation Iraqi freedom, was buried with full military honors yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery, in Virginia. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in Newman Congregational Church, 100 Newman Ave., Rumford, East Providence. Captain Sammis was the husband of Stacy (Dancisin) Sammis. He was born in Providence, a son of Steven B. and Beth L. (Salve) Sammis. He died on or about April 5, when the Cobra attack helicopter he was flying crashed over central Iraq, according to the Marine Corps. The crash is under investigation. In a statement after their son’s death, Steven and Beth Sammis said their son loved to fly and loved the Corps as much as life itself. Ben was a true patriot and made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. We will be forever proud of him and the character he held so true. They ended their statement with, To his fellow Marines: Semper Fi. The Marine Corps slogan, Semper Fidelis, means always faithful. Captain Sammis had dreamed of flying jets and helicopters since he was 10 years old. He earned his Wings of Gold in 1999, while flying F-18 jets. He had been an avid sailor who enjoyed racing with his father, and was an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School in 1992. While in high school, he was a starting sweeper for the soccer team, a member of the school chorus who won acceptance to the Southeastern Massachusetts District Choral. He was elected as an alternate to the annual Student Government Day. He graduated from the Citadel in 1996, completing the five-year bachelor’s degree program in civil engineering in four years. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in May 1996. He was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 in November 1999. He graduated from the weapons and tactics instructor’s course in October 2002. In January, 2003, Captain Sammis deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While growing up, he was an avid sailor and sailboat racer who sailed with his family on their boat Beth. He was a current service member of the Barrington Yacht Club, a membership designation for those in military service. He had been an instructor in the club’s junior sailing program and had been invited as a crewmember on many of the club’s boats while racing in Narragansett Bay and in other local waters. Besides his parents, he leaves two brothers, Jeffrey Page Sammis of Freeport, Maine, and Adam Howard Sammis of Raleigh, N.C.; a nephew, Cullen Benjamin Sammis of Freeport, who was born last Thursday; his maternal grandmother, Elizabeth (Beugling) Salve Grassie; and his step-grandfather, Everett Grassie.
Posted in:
Posted on:
Link to original obituary: