Sergeant First Class Gary J. Vasquez was born on November 12, 1974. Although the Army listed his hometown as Round Lake, Illinois, his family considered him a son of Highland, a small community in the Metro East region near St. Louis. Gary was the son of Lieutenant Colonel Frank Vasquez, a Vietnam veteran who preceded him in death, and he grew up close to his mother Margaret DuHasek, his brother Barry and his sister Keely.
Gary graduated from Highland High School in 1992 and earned a bachelor’s degree in drama from Illinois State University in 1996. One of his theater professors remembered him as “a delightful student” and “a very positive young man.” His brother described a personality that was larger than life. “He was probably one of the funniest people I’ve ever met,” Barry said. “He was my best friend and my brother.” Gary loved to read and to spend time with his dogs, Smash and Medea.
Gary always wanted to be a soldier. He enlisted in January 2000 as a cavalry scout and, after basic and advanced individual training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, was assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) at Fort Bragg. He began the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2002 and earned the Green Beret in 2004. He joined the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg as a Special Forces engineer sergeant. His military education also includes the Ranger Course, SERE, the Air Movement Course, the Basic Airborne Course and the Warrior Leader, Basic Noncommissioned Officer and Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Courses.
In May 2008 Gary deployed to Afghanistan with Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, as an Operational Detachment Alpha senior engineer sergeant with the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force. It was his third deployment to Afghanistan. People told him they were sorry each time he went back to war, and his brother recalled the answer: “He would say, ‘What do you mean? I can’t wait.’”
On September 29, 2008, during mounted operations near Yakhchal in Helmand Province, Gary’s vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. He was killed along with his teammates Captain Richard J. Cliff Jr. and Sergeant First Class Jamie S. Nicholas. He was 33. His decorations include three Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab.
Gary was laid to rest in Highland after a funeral Mass at St. Paul Catholic Church on October 11, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Sarah, with whom he would have celebrated a second wedding anniversary on October 14, 2008, and by his mother, his brother and his sister. “He loved his job,” Barry said. “He was happy to be doing what he was doing.”
SFC Gary Vasquez died from wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device during mounted operations.
Official Memorial Record
Sources
- Military Times Honor the Fallen: Army Sgt. 1st Class Gary J. Vasquez (with AP coverage)
- Green Beret Foundation: Gary J. Vasquez
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Legacy.com): Gary Vasquez obituary
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Gary Vasquez bio (USASOC release text)
