United States Army Sergeant First Class • Line of Duty Death: March 19, 2020

United States Army Sergeant First Class Benjamin Montes passed away on March 19, 2020 after his battle with service-related cancer.
Montes was born in Austin, Texas, and raised in a traditional Catholic household in Forest Lake, Minnesota. He was the oldest of four boys and remained strong in his faith throughout life. Throughout his childhood, he loved to play soccer and spend time with his friends and family. Montes and his wife, Mandy, met in high school. Although they had an undeniable connection when they met, they did not begin their relationship until after they both graduated. They were married on October 14, 2008.
From a young age, Montes had a dream to serve his country. He decided to enlist in the US Army as it gave him the opportunities he sought to be part of something bigger than himself. In 2005, he joined the Army Reserves and was transferred to active duty in 2007. Having thrived on order and clear-cut structure, Montes loved his career and strived to be an excellent leader both in service and at home. He enjoyed working among people who were hard-working and committed. The camaraderie that comes with serving in the military was something he valued and took pride in. In July of 2015, Montes was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer. Although he fought vehemently, the disease had spread to multiple parts of his body at the time of diagnosis. Seven months later, he lost his life.
Mandy currently resides in the first home she and Montes purchased together for their family in Minnesota. She loves being a mother to her beautiful children, Gianni, Liana, and Carlo, and attending their sports games and performances. In her free time, Mandy enjoys connecting with friends and family, hosting holiday gatherings, reading historical fiction novels, and attending Minnesota Twins baseball games and Minnesota Wild hockey games. Additionally, she volunteers with her children’s schools and extracurricular activities and previously served as an Administrator for a small Montessori school for seven years. In the future, Mandy is excited to continue to watch her children grow as well as guide her career path toward involvement with a meaningful organization. She is eternally grateful to Tunnel to Towers for allowing her family to remain in the home she and Montes chose for themselves and for their children. Finally, Mandy would like others to remember her husband for his heart. Montes had such compassion for others and unconditionally helped those in need. She describes her husband as someone who “made everybody feel like somebody.” With the ability to make everyone around him feel important, Montes truly made a difference in others’ lives just by being present. He is incredibly missed.
United States Army Sergeant First Class Benjamin Montes is survived by his loving wife, Mandy, his children, Gianni, Liana and Carlo, his parents, David and Renee, his younger brothers, William, Adrian and Christian, and his sisters-in-law, Grace, Arian and Lexi.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has paid off the mortgage of the Montes family home through the Gold Star Family Home Program.