SSG Gene A. Vance, Jr.

19 May 2002, Afghanistan

Special Forces

A native of West Virginia, Staff Sergeant Gene A. Vance, Jr. was killed in action on 19 May 2002 while on patrol during Operation MOUNTAIN LION near Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Vance enlisted in the Army in 1983 and trained as a Communications Systems Circuit Controller. He joined the Army Reserve in 1992 as a Supply Specialist in the 646th Quartermaster Company, Kingwood, West Virginia. In October 1992, Vance transferred to 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, Camp Dawson, West Virginia, as a Persian-Farsi language trained communicator. In 2001, his unit was placed on active duty and deployed to Afghanistan.

At the time of his death, SSG Vance was serving in the Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.