Appleton West High School held a ceremony and fitness challenge for teacher Ben Klingberg, who will leave for his second deployment in the Middle East this summer, March 21, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Appleton West High School students are honoring one of their teachers as they prepare to deploy overseas.
Social studies teacher and captain in the National Guard, Ben Klingberg, will leave for his second deployment in the Middle East this summer. He’s expected to come back sometime next year.
To show their support, students and faculty participated in “The Klingberg Challenge” Thursday, which includes a one-mile run, 100 sit-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats, and a final one-mile run. It is similar to the “Murph Challenge” (in honor of LT. Michael P. Murphy).
Klingberg says it feels good to know that the community and his students value him and his contributions.
“It means a lot, it means the world to have the support. Not every veteran can have the sendoff like I’m having. You know, in a lot of ways, it’s easy for me going overseas and doing the mission that I need to do where my wife and my family is going to have to stay behind and have the kids so I think it’s important for me but it’s also important for my wife to know that we’re supported both there and here,” he said.
Klingberg adds he’s not the only veteran in the community and he’s not the only one who is going to leave home on deployment. He encourages the community to support other veterans and their families as well. It’s nice when you thank a veteran for their service but sometimes it’s even nicer to ask to hear their stories and about their experience in the military, Klingberg says.
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