01-24-2004, 19:15
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#1
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,780
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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
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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.
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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
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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
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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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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
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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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