This year, Memorial Day had an even greater meaning.
Staff Sgt. Gene Arden Vance Jr., the latest American casualty in the war on terrorism, was remembered Sunday (May 26) as a quiet, dedicated soldier whose death underscores the sacrifices the nations military personnel have made time and again in defense of freedom.
“As we go about our daily lives this Memorial Day weekend, we give thanks for this fallen solider, Sgt. Gene Vance, for it was his uncommon valor that protects our common routines,”Gov. Bob Wise said during the public memorial service in the WVU Mountainlair Ballrooms.
Vance, 38, of Morgantown, died May 19 in eastern Afghanistan when his National Guard unit came under fire from suspected al-Qaida or Taliban forces. A bullet reportedly missed his body armor and pierced his chest and he died on a military helicopter en route to a trauma center. He served in the 2nd Battalion of the 19th Special Forces Unit based in Kenova and was the first West Virginia National Guard member to die on active duty since World War II. He was the 45th American killed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
About 800 people attended the memorial service, including Vances widow, Lisa Selmon Vance, a software engineer from Morgantown; mother, June Steele Vance; daughter, Amber Nicole Vance; sister, Jamie Vance-Minc; and brother William David Vance.
Vances flag-draped coffin sat before the stage in the ballrooms, flanked by a rotating military honor guard made up of fellow soldiers from the Kenova-based unit. Modest floral arrangements and an exhibit featuring photos of Vance in military fatigues and biking gear along with personal effects such as dog tags and beret completed the funeral display.
The 249th Army Band, based in Morgantown, and Morgantown High School Chamber Choir performed patriotic tributes.
Other speakers at the service joined Wise in honoring Vances memory and his role in the broader campaign to make the world safe from terrorism.
“He was a quiet man, a dedicated soldier who was willing to sacrifice his life for freedom,”said Maj. Gen. Allen Tackett, adjutant general for the West Virginia National Guard.”He paid the ultimate price so his family can live in a free world.”
Tackett said Vances death serves to remind West Virginians that the National Guard is on the front lines in both military actions and natural disasters.
“The National Guard is the only dual-mission service,”he said.
U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said Vance epitomized the nations military personnel who daily accept risks that average Americans took for granted until the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
“We were jolted out of our complacency,”Rockefeller said.”We were reminded that we have enemies, that oceans dont protect us, that friendly neighbors dont isolate us. Once again, we turned to our men and women in uniform to continue that acceptance of risk to defend us. They responded as they always do, and last week we learned the cost of that response.”
WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. noted Vances ties to WVU and Morgantown in addition to his military service.
Vance attended WVU from 1991-95 and had re-enrolled last fall before his unit was activated in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. He worked at Whitetail Bicycle and Fitness Center in Morgantown and enjoyed live music, especially legendary surf guitarist Dick Dale.
“A WVU student and local businessman, an avid outdoorsman and newlywed, a military expert and music lover, Gene Vance was a potent combination of the ordinary and extraordinary,”Hardesty said.
Hardesty and Vice President for Student Affairs Ken Gray presented Mrs. Vance with an honorary diploma and the WVU Distinguished Service Award in honor of her husband.
Others presented her with an order promoting Vance to staff sergeant and four posthumous awards for his service: the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the West Virginia Distinguished Service Medal.
Sgt. 1st Class Richard Vanhoose, who attended Sundays service, accompanied Vances body from Germany to the United States.
“He was a proud persona quiet person. He wouldnt have wanted all this,”Vanhoose said of this comrade, but acknowledged that it was important for West Virginiansand especially those from his hometown of Morgantownto honor him.
Vance, married for only five months when he was deployed in December, displayed his selflessness when he was called to duty, putting his honeymoon, schooling and dreams on hold to serve his country, said Chaplain Randall Kochersperger,.
“He made the supreme sacrifice to his nation,”Kochersperger said.”He came face to face with the horror and reality of war.”
Following the service, mourners gathered outside at Oglebay Plaza, where WVU student Anita Windon of Alpha Phi Omega rang the bell from the decommissioned armored cruiser USS West Virginia 21 timessimilar to a 21-gun military salute. It is a tradition on the WVU campus to ring the bell to honor fallen students, especially those who have served their country.
At the bell ringing service, Vances widow, mother and daughter all received the state flag from Gov. Wise. Lisa Vance embraced the flag and kissed it gently.
Vance was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and grew up in McDowell and Wyoming counties, the son of a sheriff. He was a 1981 graduate of Oceana High School and went on to study basic and advanced training at Fort Gordon, Ga. He joined the Army Reserve as a supply specialist in January 1992 and in October of that year joined the 19th Special Forces. He was fluent in Farsi and trained as a cryptologic linguist to translate intercepted messages.
A private family service with full military rites was held May 28. Vance was buried in East Oak Grove Cemetary in Morgantown.
City officials say they hope to erect a permanent memorial to honor Vance. In the meantime, black ribbons line the town that read:”Morgantowns pride, West Virginias finest, and American hero.”
A memorial fund has been established at WesbancoSabraton branch, 1350 Earl Core Road, Morgantown, WV 26505 . Donations may be directed to the Staff Sgt. Gene A. Vance, Jr. Memorial Fund.