BETHEL — The world lost someone classmate and close friend Deagan Conrad described as “dedicated and determined” Saturday, when the search for Ben Cross was called off.

Cross, 26, a first lieutenant from Bethel, and 25 other U.S. Marines were conducting a routine search-and-rescue operation in an MV-22 Osprey when it crashed off the coast of Australia. Twenty-three of the 26 Marines were found.

USA Today reported that submerged debris from the craft was located Monday 400 miles northwest of the city of Brisbane, in Shoalwater Bay, the Australian Navy said in a statement. A diving operation to survey the wreckage has begun. 

 Cross graduated from Telstar Regional High School in Bethel in 2009, and attended the Virginia Military Institute on a full Naval ROTC scholarship before joining the Marines.

 “He always talked about flying,” Conrad said. “I’m proud of him for achieving his dream.”

 Cross participated in athletics all through school and was a member of the National Honor Society, Boys State, FACT, student council, Future Business Leaders of America, and he was a class officer.

 Conrad remembered how Cross had entered Telstar in middle school as “Mr. Nobody” and by the end of his senior year, he was dubbed “Mr. Telstar” and was liked by everyone.

 In his senior year, he was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.”

 “It’s too bad we won’t get to see the person he could have become down the road,” classmate Alex Gundersen said. “Most of us knew he was going places.”

 Classmates, teachers and of course, Cross’ family, were shocked to hear of the loss of a man who enriched the lives of so many.

 “When I woke up on Sunday and read the news on Facebook, I cried,” said Bethel resident Lainey Cross, no relation to Ben Cross. “We just lost a good, thoughtful, genuine man.”

 Bethany O’Neil, fellow 2009 Telstar alumna and a close friend of Cross’, described him as “a person with strong moral character and a sense of purpose.”

 Conrad recalled how he had recently received a phone call out of the blue from Cross, just to see how he was doing.

 “I just thought that was really thoughtful of him,” Conrad sad. “We’re all so busy, but he still took the time to see how I was doing, and we ended up talking for over two hours.”

 Paul Saucier, also a Telstar alumnus, played soccer with Ben and said he always had a smile, and was “such a team player.”

Classmate Alan Hadley said, “Ben also had a courageous laugh that would spark uncontrollable laughter, resulting in tears, and you would sometimes end up forgetting why you started laughing in the first place.”

In an interview with CBS, Ryan Cross described his brother as having “the highest moral character — just the most caring, compassionate, empathetic individual I’ve ever met. He would do anything for anybody that needed it, so selfless, devoted to his family and devoted to his duty in the Marine Corps.”

 Ben Cross leaves behind his father and mother, Robert and Valerie, his brother, Ryan, sister-in-law, Jacqueline, and a baby niece, Allison, as well as grandparents, countless friends, and a legacy of kindness and motivation.

 “Ben taught me that hard work and determination pay off, and that I was capable of more than I imagined,” O’Neil said. “He was my best friend, and he is irreplaceable.”

 emarquis@sunmediagroup.net

From left, Deagan Conrad, Ben Cross, Kate Driscoll, James Kimball, Eva Thornton and Bethany O’Neil in December 2015, gathered for the holidays every year.

U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Ben Cross was killed Saturday when a Marine aircraft crashed off the coast of Australia. 

Ben Cross and Bethany O’Neil in high school. Cross, a U.S. Marine, was killed Saturday when a Marine aircraft crashed off the coast of Australia. 

U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Ben Cross and his brother, Ryan Cross. Ben Cross was killed Saturday when a Marine aircraft crashed off the coast of Australia.