By Edward Colimore
The Philadelphia Inquirer
BORDENTOWN, N.J. — At the volunteer fire company in Bordentown, the news of Ben Moore’s death weighed heavy on Thursday as members recalled the lighthearted young man who had grown up at the station.
Moore had been part of the Hope Hose Humane Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 since age 16 and enlisted in the U.S. Army about a year and a half ago.
This week, the private first class, a 2006 graduate of Bordentown Regional High School, was killed in Afghanistan.
He and other members of his unit were reportedly trying to disarm an improvised explosive device when it exploded.
As of Thursday night, information about the incident, including Moore’s date of death, had not been released by the U.S. Department of Defense, which notified the family in Hamilton, Mercer County, on Wednesday.
“There are broken hearts here” at the fire station, said the company’s fire captain, Ken Mortello, 38, of Bordentown Township. “There’s a real bad hurt.”
Moore, a former Bordentown City resident, had been a member of the fire company for seven years, beginning as a junior firefighter.
He started going on fire calls when he got his driver’s license and rose through the ranks to serve as a lieutenant and emergency medical technician.
“He always put his best foot forward to help his community and friends,” Mortello said. “He was humble and patriotic. He loved accepting challenges and was told the military life was challenging.”
Moore enlisted and was later deployed in July.
“I gave him a few pointers,” recalled Mortello, a military veteran. “I told him to pretty much duck.”
Moore’s death was “a personal loss,” he added. “I watched him grow up in front of me and helped him become who he was.
“I don’t think Ben had a long-range plan,” Mortello said. “He wanted as many options as possible.”
News of Moore’s death also stunned staff and students in the Bordentown Regional School District.
Moore was believed to be the 16th person with Burlington County ties to die in Afghanistan or Iraq.
“It’s absolutely sad,” said school board member Thomas Potts.
“Our hearts go out to the family,” Board President Kimberly Zablow said Thursday night. “It’s a terrible tragedy. Many of our staff know him well and are devastated.”
Added Bordentown Regional Superintendent Constance Bauer: “We are proud of his service to our nation and mourn the loss of this fine young man.”
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