Gene Arden Vance Jr.
Birth nameGene Arden Vance Jr.
Nickname(s)"Buddy"; "Bud"
Born(1963-11-30)November 30, 1963
Frankfurt, Germany
DiedMay 18, 2002(2002-05-18) (aged 38)
Afghanistan  (KIA)
Buried
Morgantown, West Virginia
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch
Years of service1983–90; Reservist 1992–2002
RankStaff sergeant (posthumously)
Unit19th Special Forces Group
Battles/wars
Awards

Gene Arden (“Buddy”) Vance Jr. (November 30, 1963 – May 18, 2002) was an American soldier, a member of a US Special Forces Airborne Army National Guard Unit who, despite being critically wounded, saved the lives of two fellow Americans and 18 Afghan soldiers during the War in Afghanistan (2001–present). Vance's actions, life story, heroism and death were widely publicized in the mainstream media and is featured in several books on the War on Terrorism as well as in the ABC reality series "Profiles from the Front Line".[1]

Vance was the first member of the National Guard of the United States to be killed in direct action since a New Hampshire National Guard soldier was killed in Vietnam in 1969.[2] He was also the first West Virginia National Guardsman to be killed in action since World War II[3] and the first U.S. Army graduate of Goodfellow Air Force Base's cryptography training to be killed in action while taking part in Operation Enduring Freedom.[4] Vance was the first alumni of The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center Presidio of Monterey to be killed in combat since the terrorist attacks on the US of September 2001.[5]

Both federal and state leaders in the United States government have inscribed Vance into US history as a national hero.[6][7] Two US military intelligence staff buildings, a military camp in Bagram, Afghanistan, a US state bridge, a US based non-profit organization, an annual US citywide memorial day, biometric laboratory, hall of honor, city/mountain bike path, trademarked coffee label, and memorial drive have been named in his honor. He received 17 awards and decorations including the US Army Purple Heart, two Bronze Star Medals with and the Legion of Merit that recognizes exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of sustained, superior achievement.

Early, family and personal life

Vance was born on November 30, 1963, in Frankfurt, Germany. He was the first born son of the late Gene Arden Vance Sr., a retired US army officer and member of the Green Berets who was a magistrate and sheriff of Wyoming County, West Virginia and June Carol Steele from neighboring McDowell County, WV who is a retired registered nurse teaching nursing in the United States. The Vance's also had two younger children, Gene Jr.’s siblings, David and Jamie.[8]

Vance is a member of a multi-generational US military family spanning four generations of service. His great uncles William ‘Bittle’ Steele, US Army 4th Infantry Division Bravo Company and Clarence 'Buck' England served in the Battle of the Bulge. His father Gene Sr. served with the LRRP and U.S. Special Forces as a Captain in the Vietnam war and then with the Military Police in Thailand. Gene Sr. was described by the media as a lean, well-muscled lawman standing 6-foot-4, and 'ramrod straight'.[9] His uncles William Edward Vance and James Ray Vance served in long term US military careers. Gene Vance Jr.'s younger brother David is a retired non-commissioned officer who served with the 101st Airborne performing two tours of duty in the Iraq War and whose son, Gene's nephew, serves in the US Navy. During his life Gene actively sought to continue his family's military legacy.[10]

Gene A. Vance Jr. was described as a 6-foot-4 inches tall "mountaineer"- an avid outdoorsman and physical fitness, mountain biking, white water rafting, backpacking, kayaking, snowboarding and chess enthusiast.[6][11] He kept much of his military life a secret from friends and family who believed he led what was described as two lives - a different life than people saw.[12] He loved the Grateful Dead, John Prine and became well known to Dick Dale as one of his fans. He liked to wear Birkenstock sandals and Deadhead T-shirts in sharp contrast to his military life and secret government missions.[13] The reason for Gene's secrecy[14] was believed to be in part due to his modest nature and also to the secretive nature of his elite training as both a cryptologic linguist and a US Special Forces Reservist.[15] Gene had specialty skills in translating intercepted foreign state communications[16][17] and was honored by the NSA.

Vance was a student at West Virginia University and a 1981 graduate of Oceana High School (West Virginia) in Wyoming County, where he was voted "most quiet" in his high school senior class. From all accounts he was a strong, shy, selfless, pleasant, gentle and quiet man who loved a wide variety of rock and roll music, and dark roast coffee.[18][19]

Vance had a daughter, Amber, from a previous marriage, and was married to Lisa Selmon Vance at the time of his death.[20] Vance's personal communications with his wife during wartime service were featured in a book entitled ‘Behind The Lines’ by author Andrew Carroll.[21] [22][23][24]

9/11

At the time of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, Vance was living in Morgantown, West Virginia. He was newly married and about to go on his honeymoon. He was also just beginning a new semester at West Virginia University and managed one of West Virginia's largest sporting goods stores in the city.[25]

Among the U.S. Army responses to the September 11 terrorist attacks was the activation of the 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, (Airborne).[26] Vance served with the West Virginia Army National Guard element of the battalion. Vance cancelled his honeymoon and put his studies on hold to go to war. Vance's Persian language, cryptologic and special forces skills, harnessed at the start of the war in Afghanistan, were rare and distinguished him from the majority of the US Army.[27]

Vance's skills became vital to operations against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorists.[28]

Military career

Vance attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Ga., for Communications Systems Circuit Controller in 1983. In 1988, he completed the Primary Leadership Development Course at Fort Ord, Ca. and then served in various active-duty assignments both in the United States and overseas from June 1983 until June 1990.

Vance's military education included:

  • The Communication System Circuit Course
  • The Primary Leadership Development Course
  • The Petroleum Supply Specialist Course
  • The Basic Airborne Course
  • The Special Forces Command Basic Non commissioned Officer Course
  • Advanced International Morse Code
  • The Persian Language Course

Vance was awarded his first Bronze Star[29] for Valor for his actions in the Persian Gulf War then joined the Army Reserves as a supply specialist in the 646th Quartermaster Company, Kingwood, W.Va., from January 1992 until October 1992. During this period, he completed the Petroleum Supply Specialist Course. He then joined Company C, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in October 1992. In 1994, he transferred to Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He was later awarded the military occupational skill of voice interceptor in 2001. After the events on September 11, 2001, Vance's special forces unit was activated.[15]

According to the US Military, Staff Sergeant Vance's patrol was ambushed on 18 May 2002 by Taliban fighters in the vicinity of Shkin, Paktika Afghanistan while taking part in Operation Mountain Lion.[30] Although critically wounded in the initial attack, Staff Sergeant Vance continued to translate battlefield intelligence for Afghan forces in the area, directing them out of danger. For his actions Vance received multiple awards and decorations. He had also played a critical role in developing his detachment's communications capabilities in the US-led efforts to capture Osama Bin Laden.

Death, memorials and tributes

  • On May 18, 2002, Vance died from a gunshot wound to the chest according to official military reports and was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant. Varied accounts and reports surrounding Vance's death were widespread in the media immediately upon his death.
  • On Saturday, May 26, 2002, the day before US Memorial Day approximately 1,000 people including state, national military and government officials, attended Vance's memorial service held in his hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia. West Virginia University President David C. Hardesty, Jr., bestowed upon Vance an honorary Bachelor of Arts degree from the university which Vance had attended before his deployment to Afghanistan saying that Vance represented "a potent combination of the ordinary and extraordinary."[31] Former US Senator John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia was in office as the senate intelligence committee chairman at the time of Vance's death. He paid tribute to Vance's service saying that Americans who enjoy the freedoms and comforts their society provides must never forget that they do so because of men such as Sergeant Vance.[32] US Senators, Joe Manchin III and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia have paid tribute to Vance by honoring his actions to 'fight terror in the name of freedom'.[33]
  • On July 14, 2002, the State of West Virginia named the Oceana Junction Bridge at the intersection of State Route 85 and State Route 10, in Oceana, Wyoming County, West Virginia, the SSG Gene Arden Vance, Jr., Memorial Bridge.[34]
  • In December 2002, Camp Vance, Bagram, Afghanistan[35] located 1.4 km from the airfield at Bagram Air Base, was formed and headquartered the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan.[36][37][38]
  • In May 2003, the year following Vance's death, the US National Security Agency engraved Vance's name on the NSA/CSS Cryptologic Memorial Wall, which honors the 153 cryptologists who have given their lives in the performance of their duties since World War II.[39] That same year the second episode of the ABC reality series Profiles from the Front Line, produced by Warner Bros. and Jerry Bruckheimer Television, aired and featured the death of Sgt. Vance in the war.
  • In 2003, the City of Morgantown, WV named a portion of the Deckers Creek Trail which is part of the city's historical rail trail, The Vance Mile.[40]
  • In 2005, a revised and expanded English hard cover translation of a French language book Sur les traces d'al-qaida (On the trail of Al Qaeda) was published by Zenith Press. It was entitled Hunting al Queda and was authored by several members of 'Beast 85', the code name of a Special Forces team from the 20th Special Forces Group, which deployed to Afghanistan in May 2002 and had become involved in the incident that claimed Vance's life.[41]
  • On August 25, 2006, a newly constructed building was named Vance Barracks at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and Presidio of Monterey in California. US Congressman Sam Farr of California helped secure funding for the building honoring Vance. The congressman described the War on Terrorism as a new war because it is unlike conventional warfare and asymmetrical, requiring the US military to think differently, develop capability and forces that can adapt quickly to unexpected circumstances.[42]
  • On December 21, 2006, Vance's brother in-law, Michael M. J. Minc formed the Gene Vance Jr. Foundation for the Catastrophically Injured in response to US soldiers returning home from the War on Terrorism with severely disfiguring injuries. The Foundation established in Vance's honor is an all volunteer, medical humanitarian non-profit organization leading an initiative entitled Operation Total Restoration[43][44][45] that marshals the forces of military and civilian specialists to help advance care for the war wounded and traumatically injured. In 2011, the Naval Medical Center San Diego presented the foundation with a certificate of appreciation for their leader's unyielding volunteer dedication to the advancement of medicine and commitment to education in Vance's name that has elevated the standard of care and expanded treatment options for the community and the United States Navy during a time of armed conflict.[46][47][48][49]
  • On April 24, 2007 Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas named the 344th Military Intelligence Battalion Headquarters Building on West Vance Street the Vance-Nolan Military Intelligence Building honoring two American soldiers: Staff Sgt. Vance of Morgantown, West Virginia, who was the first U.S. Army graduate of Goodfellow Air Force Base's cryptologic training to be killed in action while taking part in Operation Enduring Freedom.[50] and Sgt. Joseph M. Nolan of Waterbury, Connecticut who was the first U.S. Army graduate of the Goodfellow Air Force Base's cryptologic training to be killed in action while taking part in Operation Iraqi Freedom.[4]
  • On March 30, 2008, the SSG Gene Arden Vance Jr and SG DeForest Lee Talbert Hall of Honor[51] located inside the Camp Dawson Headquarters building, was dedicated in tribute honoring these two American soldiers displaying all the flags of the world atop the wall that prominently bears their names. Sgt. DeForest L. Talbert of Charleston, W.Va. died on July 27, 2004, while serving in operation Iraqi Freedom.
  • On August 21, 2008, the Department of Defense Biometrics Task Force (redesignated as the Biometrics Identity Management Agency in 2010) Gene Vance Biometrics Experimentation Center at Camp Dawson (West Virginia) was dedicated in honor of Vance to house the biometrics experimentation capabilities and communications vehicle.[52]
  • On May 18, 2012, US Armed Forces Day and ten years following Vance's fatal shooting, a new day in the United States of America called the Gene Vance Jr. Day was founded in Vance's hometown. It was created by the Gene Vance Jr. Foundation with support from officials representing the State of West Virginia, City of Morgantown, West Virginia Army National Guard, West Virginia University, business and media organizations to honor the legacy of American soldiers who returned home from the longest ongoing war in US history, remembers the fallen and supports the wounded in honor of their hometown hero. Framed by Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day in the United States, the day is observed annually in Morgantown on May 18.[53][54][55][56][57]
  • On May 1, 2012, the United States Patent and Trademark Office registered the trademark "Bud's Bold Brew Coffee" that contained a portrait of Vance in his honor.[58][59]
  • On May 22, 2016, the 15th anniversary year of 9/11, the City of Morgantown, WV designated a memorial highway in Vance's honor named the Gene Arden Vance Jr. Memorial Drive.[60]
  • On May 16, 2020, US Armed Forces Day, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, founder Michael M.J. Minc spearheaded the 9th annual Gene Vance Jr. Day by creating a virtual event.[61] Entitled ‘United in Spirit’[62] it brought together government leaders like Senators Joseph Manchin III and Shelley Moore Capito, military leaders like Adjutant General of the West Virginia Army National Guard, Major General James A. Hoyer, education leader E. Gordon Gee as well as healthcare, multi denominational religious leaders along with musical performers that included American Idol contestant and country musician, Cody Clayton Eagle, an 18-year-old Morgantown high school senior.[63]
  • On May 15, 2021, U.S. Armed Forces Day, amidst a continuing pandemic during the 20th Anniversary year of the September 11 attacks and the 10th Anniversary celebration of the Gene Vance Jr. Day, Michael M.J. Minc, collectively as Vance’s brother in-law, founder and leader of the Gene Vance Jr. Day, the Gene Vance Jr. Foundation and Bud’s Bold Brew created a 2nd virtual tribute event entitled ‘United in Spirit 2021 American Tribute X’[64] The event received a commendation from members of congress and the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden. President Biden, who is also commander-in-chief of the US Armed Forces, praised the Gene Vance Jr. Foundation’s efforts aimed at improving the quality of life for wounded veterans in SSG Vance’s name.[65][66][67][68]
  • On September 11, 2021, the 20th Anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the U.S. Patriot Day edition of the Charleston Gazette-Mail, a Pulitzer prize winning publication, published a tribute article to Vance's legacy on its front page[69] in honor of Vance and the day.[70][71]
  • On May 21, 2022, US Armed Forces Day, amidst the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine during the 21st Anniversary year of 9/11 and the 11th Anniversary celebration of the Gene Vance Jr. Day, Vance’s brother in-law, Michael M.J. Minc created a 3rd virtual event entitled ‘American Freedom Tribute XI' that honored the 20th anniversary of Gene Arden (“Buddy”) Vance Jr’s death paying tribute to SSG Vance, the people and soldiers of Ukraine, American soldiers and their allies that are presently serving, war veterans who have fallen and those who are severely wounded.[72][73][74][75]
  • On May 29, 2022, the day before U.S. Memorial Day, NASCAR Cup Series paid tribute to SSG Vance’s heroism [76] at The Coca-Cola 600, an annual 600-mile (970 km) NASCAR Cup Series points race held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, on a Sunday during U.S. Memorial Day weekend. Vance’s name was carried by the grand marshal vehicle that lead the field. SSG Vance was one of several soldiers recognized by the grand marshal.[77]
  • On September 11 US National Day of Service and Remembrance and Patriot Day 2022, in recognition of the 20th Anniversary year of SSG Vance’s death, the U.S. Special Forces Association Chapter 42 was renamed as the 'Gene Vance Jr./Pat St. Clair Special Forces Chapter 42 Association' at a 9/11 dedication ceremony held at F.O.P. Lodge 47 in Eighty-Four in Pennsylvania, US. The ceremony was to recognize the courage and sacrifice of fallen U.S. Special Forces SSG Gene Arden Vance Jr. It also honored the service of retired Command Sergeant major Pat St. Clair of Mt. Morris, Greene County, PA who took part in the raid of the Sơn Tây prison camp in North Vietnam in 1970 in an attempt to rescue some 61 American prisoners of war.[78]
  • On September 11, 2022, the 20th anniversary of SSG Vance’s death, the last American flag to fly over Camp Vance, a longtime Special Forces HQ in Bagram during the war in Afghanistan, was presented to Jamie L. Vance-Minc and Michael M.J. Minc, Vance’s sister and brother in-law, by the U.S. 10th Special Forces Group, Airborne on the 21st Anniversary of 9/11. The American flag that flew in honor of Vance at the military base that carried his name for two decades, traveled over 8,000 miles from Bagram to Fort Carson and was presented to Vance’s family by Lieutenant Colonel Matt Chaney, who was the former commander of the 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)[79] in Afghanistan the year Camp Vance was closed. The flag and Vance’s legacy were to be honored on September 10, 2022, at West Virginia University, Vance’s alma mater, as part of the events surrounding the historic West Virginia vs Kansas College football homecoming match.[80] Due to family circumstances the presentation took place in a private ceremony.[81][82]

Awards and decorations

References

  1. ↑ Warner Bros. and Jerry Bruckheimer Television. "Profiles from The Front Line". Richard Mackenzie. on YouTube
  2. ↑ North, Oliver (2010). American Heroes in Special Operations. Fidelis Books. pp. 53a. ISBN 978-0805447125.
  3. ↑ "Fallen National Guardsman Vance remembered as quiet, dedicated soldier". West Virginia University. 28 May 2002. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 Gutierrez, Luis Loza (24 April 2007). "Honoring two great American Soldiers". Goodfellow Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017.
  5. ↑ Binkely, Cameron (2011). The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center – A Pictorial History (PDF). Presidio of Monterey, Monterey, California USA: U.S. Army. p. 158. ISBN 978-1507686119. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  6. 1 2 2006 Congressional Record, Vol. 152, Page E2083 Archived
  7. ↑ "Gene Arden Vance Jr". Information from SFAHQ.com, ABC, AP Wire and US Air Force News. Archived from the original on 11 August 2002.
  8. ↑ Vance, Quintin Dale; Green, Wanda Rizpah; Horne, Edna M. (1986). David Vance and family. Q.D. Vance. p. 120. OCLC 16091600. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  9. ↑ Loh, Jules (February 15, 1987). "Supposed Link to Poverty Disputed by Sheriff : Crime Minimal in Rural W. Va". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  10. ↑ Archer, William R. (2013). Legendary Locals of McDowell County. Arcadia Publishing North Carolina. ISBN 978-1-4671-0036-6. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "Tribute to a hero". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The Washington Post. 27 May 2002. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "Slain commando led 2 lives, friends learn". Chicago Tribune. Tribune News Service. May 22, 2002. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  13. ↑ Loeb, Vernon; Sheridan, Mary Beth (May 21, 2002). "U.S. Victim in Afghan Firefight Was Veteran of Secret Missions". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022.
  14. ↑ Fiore, Faye; Schrader, Esther (May 21, 2002). "Fallen soldier kept elite training secret". Charleston Daily Mail. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Staff Sergeant Gene Arden Vance, Jr. Operation Enduring Freedom" (PDF). U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2022.
  16. ↑ Twedt, Steve (May 27, 2002). "W.Va. honors guardsman, casualty of Afghan fighting". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  17. ↑ "SSG Gene Arden Vance Jr". togetherweserved.com. TogetherWeServed. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  18. ↑ Bott, Rachelle (May 27, 2002). "At Memorial, Sgt. Gene Vance Jr. Honored for Service to State, Nation". Charleston Gazette. Archived from the original on 20 June 2002. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  19. ↑ Gene Vance Jr. Foundation (2013). "A powerful opportunity to help severely wounded soldiers achieve the extraordinary" (PDF). Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  20. ↑ Greenwood, Jill King (8 May 2011). "Bin Laden's death paltry comfort for families who lost loved ones". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  21. ↑ Carroll, Andrew (May 10, 2005). Behind The Lines (Hardcover ed.). Scribner Book Company. pp. 206. ISBN 978-0-7432-5616-2.
  22. ↑ Young, Jeff (May 21, 2002). "Profile: Friends remember National Guard soldier killed in Afghanistan". NPR Morning Edition. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  23. ↑ Steelhammer, Rick (June 18, 2003). "Spy agency honors fallen Guardsman". The Charleston Gazette. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Monday, May 21, 2007". Jen's Gym. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  25. ↑ "We Remember The Victims of September 11". West Virginia University. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013.
  26. ↑ "2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne)". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  27. ↑ Krause, Mike. "Remembering Those We Lost" (PDF). The Tennessean. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2013.
  28. ↑ Natela, Cutter (Fall 2006). "Landmark buildings at DLIFLC" (PDF). Globe. Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. p. 12. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  29. ↑ Stump, Jake (May 22, 2002). "Gene Vance gets medals, second bronze star". The Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 23 February 2005. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  30. ↑ "Operation Mountain Lion (US) Operation Ptarmigan (UK)". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2 December 2002.
  31. ↑ Glod, Maria (27 May 2002). "Memorial Day Hits Home". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016.
  32. ↑ 2002 Congressional Record, Vol. 148, Page S4614 Archived
  33. ↑ 2002 Congressional Record, Vol. 148, Page H2669 Archived
  34. ↑ Delegates Browning and Staton. "House Concurrent Resolution No. 204". State of West Virginia Legislature. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017.
  35. ↑ "Camp Vance". Wikimapia.
  36. ↑ St. Clair, Jim (30 August 2012). "SCANG personnel officer leads joint effort in Afghanistan". Air National Guard 169 Fighter Wing. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  37. ↑ "Camp Vance, Afghanistan". Rally Point Networks, Inc.
  38. ↑ Foehl, James (27 May 2012). "Camp Vance Memorial Day service". DVIDS. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017.
  39. ↑ "Memorial Wall / Vance" (PDF). National Security Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2022.
  40. ↑ Petsko, JR (16 June 2007). "Appalachian Classic - WVMBA #6 (iPO Event Id#: 10027) The Shogren Steamroller hits Grantsville". iPlayOutside, Inc. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007.
  41. ↑ Anonymous (2005). Hunting al Qaeda (Hardcover ed.). Zenith Press. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-7603-3736-3.
  42. ↑ Cutter, Natela (Spring 2007). "Vance Barracks dedicated at Presidio of Monterey" (PDF). Globe. Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2016.
  43. ↑ CARE Summit 2013, p. 5,59.
  44. ↑ "Operation Total Restoration". Gene Vance Jr Foundation.
  45. ↑ Naval Medical Center San Diego. "Gene Vance Jr. Foundation Operation Total Restoration". Gene Vance Jr. Foundation.
  46. ↑ CARE Summit 2013, p. front cover, 3,5-9,12-27,29,30,33,35-39,43,45,48,49,52-54,59-62, back cover.
  47. ↑ "Gene Vance Jr. Foundation". Gene Vance Jr. Foundation.
  48. ↑ "C.A.R.E. Summit 2012". Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA.
  49. ↑ "Invitation to Attend. Program 2012" (PDF). Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2017.
  50. ↑ Lee, Carissa; Gutierrez, Luis Loza. "344 MIBN Dedicates Building" (PDF). Goodfellow Air Force Base. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2013.
  51. ↑ "News". Gene Vance Jr Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 August 2009.
  52. ↑ "DoD Biometrics Task Force dedicates Camp Dawson Building to Guardsman". The Biometric Scan. Vol. 4, no. A3. Biometrics Identity Management Agency. 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  53. ↑ Selin, Jenny (2014). "Morgantown WV Observes New Day in Honor of Nation's Heroes". City of Morgantown. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022.
  54. ↑ Honorable Senator Jay Rockefeller. "United States Senate" (PDF). Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 18, 2016.
  55. ↑ Joe Manchin III. "Greetings from Joe Manchin III, United States Senator" (PDF). Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 17, 2016.
  56. ↑ Hoyer, James (1 February 2011). "A message from the Adjutant General, West Virginia Joint Forces Headquarters-West Virginia on Morgantown's 8th Gene Vance Jr. Day". Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020.
  57. ↑ "Morgantown WV Observes New Day in Honor of Nation's Heroes" (PDF). City of Morgantown. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2017.
  58. ↑ US Fed News Service (May 7, 2012). "USPTO Issues Trademark: Bud's Bold Brew Coffee Superior Quality B". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Archived from the original on March 3, 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  59. ↑ "BUD'S BOLD BREW COFFEE SUPERIOR QUALITYB - Trademark Details". Justia. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  60. ↑ Hudock, Megan (May 22, 2016). "The City of Morgantown Pays Tribute to Fallen Heroes on Gene Vance Jr. Day". WBOY-TV. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022.
  61. ↑ "WATCH: 9th Annual Gene Vance Junior Day Ceremony". WBOY-TV. May 18, 2020. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  62. ↑ Minc, Michael M.J. "9th GENE VANCE Jr. DAY BROADCAST". YouTube. Gene Vance Jr Foundation. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  63. ↑ Dean, William (May 15, 2020). "Virtual ceremony for Gene Vance Jr. Day". The Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  64. ↑ "United in Spirit 2021 American Tribute X". YouTube. Gene Vance Jr. Foundation.
  65. ↑ "UNITED IN SPIRIT- Historic Tribute & Musical Celebration". genevancejr.org. Gene Vance Jr. Foundation.
  66. ↑ "Foundation Receives Special Congressional and Presidential Commendation". genevancejr.org. Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  67. ↑ "10th annual Gene Vance Jr. Day ceremony goes virtual Saturday". No. May 14, 2021 / 04:44 PM EDT. NBC and ABC affiliate WBOY-TV. May 14, 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  68. ↑ NELSON, JOE (May 14, 2021). "Local officials celebrate armed forces on Gene Vance Jr. Day". No. 4.32 PM EST. wajr.com. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  69. ↑ "Remembering 20 years later, 9/11 CHANGED THE WORLD". genevancejr.org. Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  70. ↑ Kersey, Lori (September 10, 2021). "Legacy of first West Virginia serviceman to die during War on Terror lives on". No. Patriot Day 2021. Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  71. ↑ "Gene Vance Jr.- An American Hero Inspiring the Extraordinary". genevancejr.org. Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  72. ↑ "American Freedom Tribute XI". YouTube. Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  73. ↑ Nolting, Mike (May 20, 2022). "Gene Vance Jr. Day set for Saturday in Morgantown". No. May 20, 2022 - 11:29 am. West Virginia MetroNews. WV Metro News. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  74. ↑ Williams, Aaron (May 20, 2022). "11th annual Gene Vance Jr. Day virtual ceremony". No. May 20, 2022 / 06:33 PM EDT. 12WBOY. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  75. ↑ "Gene Vance Jr. Day returns". No. May 20, 2022 / 06:12 PM EDT. 12WBOY. 12WBOY. May 20, 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  76. ↑ "NASCAR to pay tribute to fallen West Virginia soldier". WV NEWS. May 26, 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  77. ↑ Waack, Terrin (May 28, 2022). "2022 600 Miles of Remembrance". No. Saturday, May 28, 2022. www.nascar.com. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  78. ↑ Mansfield, Karen (September 13, 2022). "Special Forces Association chapter renamed in honor of area Special Forces soldiers". No. September 13, 2022. observer-reporter.com. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  79. ↑ 10th Special Forces Group (AIRBORNE). "10th Special Forces Group - Airborne". Facebook. 10th Special Forces Group (AIRBORNE). Retrieved 20 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  80. ↑ "The Legacy of the Last American Flag Camp Vance, Afghanistan". genevancejr.org. Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  81. ↑ WV National Guard. "WV National Guard". facebook.com. WV National Guard. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  82. ↑ Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. "Gene Vance Jr. Foundation". facebook.com. Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. Retrieved 20 October 2022.

Works cited

  • "C.A.R.E. Summit 2013". Comprehensive Aesthetic Restorative Effort Summit 2013. Navy Medical Center San Diego. 5 December 2013.
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