01-24-2004, 19:15
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#1
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,779
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Vance, Gene A., SSG, MI
Sgt. Gene Arden Vance Jr. was honored in his hometown Sunday, May 26, at a public memorial service at West Virginia University’s Mountainlair Ballrooms on the Downtown Morgantown Campus. Vance, 38, was killed May 19, 2002 in eastern Afghanistan near Shkin, when his unit came under fire from suspected al-Qaeda or Taliban forces. He served in the 2nd Battalion of the 19th Special Forces Unit based in Kenova, W.Va.
Vance was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant (E-6) and awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his role in the war on terrorism. He had already earned a Bronze Star for previous service.
Vance’s widow, Lisa, received the West Virginia state flag from Gov. Bob Wise, and WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. presented her with an honorary diploma for a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree posthumously.
Hardesty said WVU was proud and honored to participate in this memorial service. "Sgt. Gene Vance was one of ours. He attended WVU from 1991-1995 and had re-enrolled last fall but was called to active duty after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. While I did not know him then, I feel as though I know him now. I have learned that he was a proud and dedicated soldier, a devoted husband to Lisa, a dedicated father to Amber and a wonderful son, brother and friend. He gave his life for America and for that we thank him, but we will miss him."
Vance was the first member of the West Virginia National Guard to die while on active duty since World War II. His unit, which has deployed 236 troops to the Middle East, is the nation’s highest-rated group of its kind.
The McDowell County native graduated from Oceana High School in Wyoming County in 1981. He served in the Army before returning to West Virginia to attend WVU in the early 1990s. He later joined the National Guard and also worked at the Whitetail Bicycle and Fitness Center in Morgantown.
An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed mountain biking, backpacking and whitewater paddling. He also loved live music performances, especially the music of Dick Dale.
Approximately 1,000 people attended the Sunday service, including the Vance family and state and national military and government officials. A memorial fund has been established at Wesbanco - Sabraton branch, 1350 Earl Core Road, Morgantown, WV 26505. Donations may be directed to the Sgt. Gene A. Vance, Jr. Memorial Fund.
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The Reaper is offline
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01-24-2004, 19:16
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#2
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,779
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Photo.
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The Reaper is offline
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05-19-2009, 09:01
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#3
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Guerrilla Chief
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: south western pa.
Posts: 692
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SSG. Gene Vance 19th SFG(A) WVNG (MI)
SSG Gene A. Vance Jr.
30 November 1963 - 19 May 2002
R.I.P. Gene. Your missed by friends and team mates.
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Special Forces Association A-593 Life
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Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
________________________________
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
Aristotle
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swpa19 is offline
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05-19-2009, 09:14
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#4
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Virginia
Posts: 377
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Damn it has been 7 years. Rest in Peace brother, I miss our conversations and rides at Cooper's.
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Ut Prosim
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booker is offline
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05-19-2009, 09:19
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#5
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: 18 yrs upstate NY, 30 yrs South Florida, 20 yrs Conch Republic, now chasing G-Kids in NOVA & UK
Posts: 11,901
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RIP, SSG Vance, Vaya con Dios
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Go raibh tú leathuair ar Neamh sula mbeadh a fhios ag an diabhal go bhfuil tú marbh
"May you be a half hour in heaven before the devil knows you’re dead"
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JJ_BPK is offline
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05-19-2009, 12:39
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#6
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Guerrilla Chief
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 590
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Rest in Peace
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LOYALTY - HONOR - INTEGRITY
Understand the problem; pull your weight. Appreciate. Be completely honest and trustworthy in all things. - Jeff Cooper
Practice honesty and integrity; rescue the man who has been wronged from the hands of his oppressor; do not exploit the stranger, the orphan, the widow; do no violence; shed no innocent blood in this place. Jer 22:3
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ~ Edmund Burke
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Rogue is offline
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05-19-2009, 12:40
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#7
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Area Commander
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 2,952
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Rest In Peace SSG Vance!
Thank you for your service!
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Red Flag 1 is offline
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05-19-2009, 13:43
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#8
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Sneaking back and forth across the Border
Posts: 6,627
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Rest In Peace SSG Vance
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SF_BHT is offline
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05-19-2009, 14:05
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#9
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 1,200
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Vance was a good guy. RIP brother.
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"It is a brave act of valor to condemn death, but where life is more terrible than death, it is then the truest valor to dare to live." -Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682)
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TOMAHAWK9521 is offline
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05-19-2009, 19:04
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#10
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Quiet Professional (RIP)
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Carriere,Ms.
Posts: 6,922
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Gone,but not forgotten.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn_iz8z2AGw - Cached
God Bless,Rest in Peace Warrior.....
He was just a simple soldier and his ranks are growing thin
But his presence should remind us; we may need his like again,
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.......
Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say:
OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY. (author unknown)
The passing of our soldiers often go unnoticed and unsung by most of the world, remembered only by family and friends. Wish it were not so. May he RIP, his family will be in my thoughts and prayers.........
I realize it's a Canadian song,however I believe most appropriate for this occasion..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrkgV5bl7kQ
Big Teddy
__________________
I believe that SF is a 'calling' - not too different from the calling missionaries I know received. I knew instantly that it was for me, and that I would do all I could to achieve it. Most others I know in SF experienced something similar. If, as you say, you HAVE searched and read, and you do not KNOW if this is the path for you --- it is not....
Zonie Diver
SF is a calling and it requires commitment and dedication that the uninitiated will never understand......
Jack Moroney
SFA M-2527, Chapter XXXVII
Last edited by greenberetTFS; 05-20-2012 at 13:35.
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greenberetTFS is offline
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05-20-2009, 10:31
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#11
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: East Coast
Posts: 23
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Blue Skies...
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Savoy6 is offline
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05-20-2009, 11:53
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#12
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: KY
Posts: 278
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Rest in Peace. Warrior.
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Colonel Crealock speaking to Colour Sergeant reporting from Isandlwana, " One most remain calm during times of stress". From the movie Zulu Dawn
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Enigma0122 is offline
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05-19-2010, 19:11
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#13
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Virginia
Posts: 377
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Another year, still seems like yesterday. Rest in peace brother, you are missed.
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Ut Prosim
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booker is offline
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05-19-2011, 18:49
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#14
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Virginia
Posts: 377
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It's been 9 years brother - I've begun to tell your stories to your namesake (he's finally old enough) - he's starting to understand why you were thought so highly of by all of us. It was an honor to have known you.
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Ut Prosim
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booker is offline
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05-19-2011, 19:29
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#15
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Guest
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Rest in Peace brother, you're missed by many.
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