Politics & Government

Flags at Half Staff Wednesday in Honor of Fallen Marine

Gov. Jerry Brown offers condolences to the family of a Marine killed last week in Afghanistan.

Gov. Jerry Brown and wife Anne Gust Brown today offered condolences to the family of a Camp Pendleton-based Marine killed in combat in Afghanistan this month.

Lance Cpl. Benjamin W. Schmidt, 24, of San Antonio, Texas, died
Oct. 6 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

"On behalf of all Californians, (we) honor Lance Cpl. Benjamin W.
Schmidt, who bravely gave his life in service to our state and nation,'' the
Browns wrote, extending their "deepest condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.''

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In memory of the fallen Marine, the governor ordered all flags be flown
at half-staff over the state Capitol Wednesday.

Schmidt was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton.

Find out what's happening in Oceanside-Camp Pendletonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He was the son of Dr. David Schmidt, an orthopedic surgeon and team
doctor for the San Antonio Spurs basketball team. His mother -- marriage and family therapist Becky Whetstone -- is a former columnist for the San Antonio Express-News.

Schmidt left Texas Christian University to enlist in the Marine Corps in
2008.

-City News Service


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