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Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

Politics take a backseat to the pain of war

Go Deeper.

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My editors assigned me to report today on Minnesota's latest casualty, Cpl. Benjamin Kopp, 21, of Rosemount. Kopp died Sat. of wounds suffered July 10 in Afghanistan.

It's been a tough few days for several Minnesota families. For Kopp's mom, Jill Stephenson, she'll bury her only child. It was an honor to speak with her in time of grief.

"He made me more proud than I really ever thought was possible in life," Stephenson said. "And now in his passing, in the conditions in which he died and being an organ donor, words can't express how elated I am and how proud I am to be his mother."

I also talked to several friends who described Kopp as funny, caring, outgoing, intense and hard working. He will be missed.

If you need a reminder of the cost of war, check out the U.S. Department of Defense news releases for just the last month. Click and read a few of the notifications for casualties. Do you feel it? I still do.