MONTGOMERY, AL, U.S.A.
U.S. MARINE CORPS
CPT, AH-1W COBRA PILOT, 3RD MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, CAMP PENDLETON, CA
02/22/2012, CALIFORNIA-ARIZONA BORDER, U.S.A.
Born January 27, 1981, CPT Benjamin N. Cerniglia, 31, of Montgomery, AL, was an AH-1W Cobra pilot. Ben was the son of Senior Pastor Mark Cerniglia and Constance S. Weber. Benjamin is survived by his wife, two children, brothers Adam and Joseph Cerniglia, and many loving friends and relatives.
CPT Ben Cerniglia was the kind of student professors loved. He was smart, hard working and passionate about the Marine Corps.
“I just know we miss him and it’s a great loss,” said Yingmei Cheng an FSU professor.
To those that knew Benjamin Cerniglia, he was more than just a soldier. He was a father. A son. And a student. He stood out among his peers.
“He was a very warm, intelligent and pleasant person,” added Professor Cheng.
Professor Cheng teaches finance at Florida State, taught CPT Cerniglia during his final semester there. She says she will always remember the inquisitive student who sometimes came to class in uniform.
“And when he asked me questions about the course materials, he also talked about how excited he was to be going back and fly the helicopter after his graduation”
CPT Cerniglia graduated in 2007. He earned a dual degree in finance and economics. The day before graduation, Benjamin Cerniglia enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he was a pilot for more than four years.
“That’s what I remember him for. Not because he was an ‘A’ student. But I think he would be an outstanding citizen and officer and serve a lot of people in this country,” said Professor Cheng.