Ill. woman receives heart from dead Minn. soldier
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Army Ranger Benjamin Kopp died last month after being wounded in Afghanistan, but a part of the Minnesota soldier lives on.
His family agreed to donate his organs, and now a 57-year-old Chicago woman feels privileged to have received the Rosemount soldier's heart.
Judy Meikle says she got a call about Kopp's death two weeks ago from the soldier's cousin, who's her close friend. His heart was a perfect match for Meikle.
She says she now has the heart of an Army Ranger who's a bona fide hero.
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Kopp served two tours in Iraq before his tour in Afghanistan as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based in Fort Benning, Ga. He will be buried Friday at Arlington National Cemetery.
The 21-year-old died July 18 after being wounded in battle.
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Information from: KSTP-TV, http://www.kstp.com
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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