Lieutenant Peter Benjamin Ober, United States Navy, died July 16, 2003 in a helicopter crash near Sigonella Naval Air Station in Sicily.
He was born February 24, 1976 in Charleston, South Carolina, and raised in Quantico, Virginia; Bremerton, Washington; and Orange Park, Florida. He graduated from Episcopal High School in Jacksonville, Florida. He attended the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, and graduated in 1998 as a proud member of Charlie Company.
He accepted a commission in the Navy and was trained as a Naval Aviator. He was stationed in Pensacola, Florida; Corpus Christi, Texas; Milton, Florida; Norfolk, Virginia; and Sigonella, Sicily.
In Charleston, he met Alicia, with whom he fell in love, married, and together they had a beautiful daughter, Madeline. They were the center of his life. He was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, and faithful friend to so many people. He brought enthusiasm to everything he did. His open and friendly manner combined with his easy sense of humor immediately put others at ease. He valued tradition and united his family. He had a strong relationship with God. He enjoyed motorcycle riding, racing and repair. Most of all, he loved to fly helicopters.
A strong sense of duty to his country and his ability to work with others allowed him to thrive in the Navy. His sense of honor, integrity and honesty even in small things made him an inspiring leader and role model. He was recently promoted to Lieutenant and had advanced in his career to Helicopter Aircraft Commander. He was recently honored to be assigned as Division Maintenance Officer responsible for supervision of aircraft maintenance and repair.
He is survived by his wife, Alicia Lindsey Ober, formerly of Charleston, South Carolina; his daughter, Madeline Jodelle Ober; his parents, Vincent H. and Susan Ober, from Jacksonville, Florida; sisters, Marianne E. Ober and Erin A. Ober, from Seattle, Washington; his grandparents, William E. and Margaret Davenport from Chesapeake, Virginia; and many loving relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Vincent H. and Margaret C. Ober, from Norfolk, Virginia.
Funeral Services with Full Military Honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, on August 22, at 3:00 P.M. Memorial Services will also be held in Norfolk, Virginia, at Larchmont Methodist Church, August 23, at 3:00 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a scholarship fund of your choice. A college fund has been established for the children of Commander Kevin Bianchi and Lieutenant Peter Ober (the other two sailors had no children). Donations will be split equally among the four children. To contribute, send a check to: College Bound fund, c/o James Donovan, 527 Stuyvesant Ave., Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071, or Peter Benjamin Ober Memorial Fund, c/o Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, South Carolina.
OBER, PETER BENJAMIN
- LT US NAVY
- DATE OF BIRTH: 02/24/1976
- DATE OF DEATH: 07/16/2003
- BURIED AT: SECTION 68 SITE 4967
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard