Lieutenant Benjamin Kirk Frederick, M.D. passed away on December 17, from injuries sustained while on active duty stationed in Iwakuni, Japan. Ben was a flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy with the Silver Eagles VMFA 115 Marine F-18 squadron. With an adventurous soul and a drive to serve others, he found a perfect fit in a career as a Naval Flight Surgeon. He was a caring and devoted friend, brother, son, and doctor. An avid traveler with an eye for adventure, Ben steered his schooling and career to take him all over the globe. He was a wonderfully independent and carefree spirit from the start. From a childhood full of friends and family in Vermont and college at the University of San Diego and Florence Italy, to obtaining his medical doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, clinical public health work in Haiti, Ghana, and beyond, to earning his wings and proudly serving as a Flight Surgeon in the U.S. Navy, Ben lived a full life. Though a carefree, fun-loving, and lively force, he was fiercely devoted in service to his squadron and in loyalty to his friends and family.