improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor, Camp Casey, Korea. Died on
September 5, 2004.
Sgt. Melissa Valles, 26, of Eagle Pass, Texas. Valles died in Balad, Iraq as a result of non-combat injuries. She was
assigned to B Company, 64th Forward Support Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado. Died on July 9, 2003.
CWO Brian K. Van Dusen, 39, of Columbus, Ohio. Van Dusen was onboard an UH-60 air medical helicopter which
crashed in the Tigris River in a non-hostile incident near Samarrah, Iraq. He was assigned to the 571st Air Medical
Company, Fort Carson, Colorado. Died on May 9, 2003.
Staff Sgt. Darren D. VanKomen, 33, of Bluefield, West Virginia. VanKomen died in Mosul, Iraq, when a suicide bomber
entered his dining facility and detonated an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 14th
Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Washington. Died on
December 21, 2004.
Spc. Allen J. Vandayburg, 20, of Mansfield, Ohio. Vandayburg died in Barez, Iraq when a rocket-propelled grenade
struck his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Vilseck, Germany.
Died on April 9, 2004.
Spc. Josiah H. Vandertulip, 21, of Irving, Texas. Vandertulip died in Baghdad, Iraq, when his dismounted patrol came
under enemy fire. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Died
on October 14, 2004.
Staff Sgt. Mark D. Vasquez, 35, of Port Huron, Michigan. Vasquez was in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle that was struck by
an improvised explosive device in Fallujah, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry
Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. Died on November 8, 2003.
Spc. Frances M. Vega, 20, of Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. Vega was on board a CH-47 Chinook Helicopter when it
went down in Al Fallujah, Iraq. The cause of the incident is unknown and an investigation is underway. She was
assigned to the 151st Adjutant General Postal Detachment 3, Fort Hood, Texas. Died on November 2, 2003.
1st Lt. Michael W. Vega, 41, of Lathrop, California. Vega died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington,
D.C., from injuries sustained when his military vehicle rolled over in Diwaniyah, Iraq, on March 11, 2004. He was
assigned to the 223rd Military Intelligence Company, 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Army National Guard, based in
Sacramento, California. Died on March 20, 2004.
Staff Sgt. Paul A. Velazquez, 29, of California. Velazquez was onboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter when it made a
crash landing in Al Fallujah, Iraq. The cause of the crash is unknown at this time and an investigation is underway.
Velazquez was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, III Corps Artillery, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Died on
November 2, 2003.
Spc. Jose A. Velez, 23, of Lubbock, Texas. Velez died in Fallujah, Iraq, while clearing an enemy strongpoint when his
unit came under fire. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Died on November 13, 2004.
Sgt. 1st Class Joselito O. Villanueva, 36, of Los Angeles, California. Villanueva died in Balad, Iraq, when he was at
an observation post and was shot by a sniper. He was assigned to the 9th Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division,
Schweinfurt, Germany. Died on September 27, 2004.
Staff Sgt. Thomas E. Vitagliano, 33, of New Haven, Connecticut. Vitagliano died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when a
vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his position. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd
Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea. Died on January 17, 2005.
Staff Sgt. Kimberly A. Voelz, 27, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Voelz was responding to an explosive ordnance disposal
call when an improvised explosive device detonated in Iskandariyah, Iraq. Voelz was assigned to the 703rd Explosive
Ordnance Detachment, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Died on December 14, 2003.
Pfc. Kenneth G. Vonronn, 20, of Bloomingburg, New York. Vonronn died in Baghdad, Iraq when an improvised
explosive device struck his Bradley fighting vehicle. He was assigned to the Army National Guard's Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division, New York, New York. Died on
January 6, 2005.
Staff Sgt. Michael S. Voss, 35, of Aberdeen, North Carolina. Voss died near Tikrit, Iraq, when his convoy vehicle
encountered an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry
Regiment, Army National Guard, Wilmington, North Carolina. Died on October 8, 2004.
Spc. Thai Vue, 22, of Willows, California. Vue died in Baghdad, Iraq, when a mortar round hit the motor pool where he
was working. He was assigned to 127th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police
Brigade, V Corps, Hanau, Germany. Died on June 18, 2004.