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Plymouth honors a fallen soldier

E-mail|Link|Comments () November 18, 2009 02:23 PM

By John M. Guilfoil, Globe Correspondent

PLYMOUTH – Army Sergeant Benjamin Sherman made his final journey home this morning.

Benjamin Sherman

The procession bringing the 21-year-old soldier's casket from Hanscom Air Force Base was welcomed by onlookers paying their respects as it traveled along the picturesque beachfront and into the quiet residential Manomet neighborhood to a funeral home.

Flags flying at half-staff waved in the sea breeze and the route was decorated with yellow ribbons. Restaurant sandwich boards bore messages honoring the soldier, including one that said, "Thank you, Ben," and was decorated with bunting and yellow ribbons.

Sherman was a paratrooper with the Fourth Brigade Combat Team of the 82d Airborne Division. He disappeared with a fellow soldier on Nov. 4 when they jumped into a river in western Afghanistan in an attempt to recover supplies. Reports indicate Sherman may have jumped into the water to aid the second soldier, who appeared to be struggling against the current.

An intensive military search began for the two men. The Taliban released a statement claiming they had the bodies of the servicemen, but later retracted it.

At the Cuisine of Mark Connolly restaurant, clerk Jill Davin, a Manomet native, held back tears as she said she knew Sherman's family.

"It's emotional," she said. "He sacrificed his life for us and our hearts go out to his family."

When the procession passed the Plymouth Fire Department headquarters, a dozen firefighters snapped to attention and saluted, with a large American flag hanging from the town's raised 100-foot tower ladder.

Sherman's cousin, Jeremiah Richmond, is a fire department lieutenant.

"In honor and as a show of respect for Sergeant Sherman as well as for Lieutenant Richmond, we presented the flag and stood at attention," said Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Murphy. "We honor all veterans and there are quite a few on the department who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Richard Davis Funeral Home on State Road. Visiting hours are tentatively set for Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the home, with a funeral slated for Friday, according to the home's website.