Mark D. Vasquez
Staff Sergeant, United States Army
April 19, 1968 – November 8, 2003
Age – 35
Goodells, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS
Died while on patrol in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle struck by an improvised explosive device in Fallujah
Army Staff Sgt. Vasquez was assigned to 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. Vasquez was in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle that was struck by an improvised explosive device in Fallujah. Mark grew up in Port Huron and in the nearby rural community of Goodells where he attended Port Huron High School. He was a practical joker, at times mischievous and rarely without a smile. Before joining the Army in April 1993, he had little direction or discipline but he thrived in the Army; it was the guidance and discipline he needed. He was first stationed in Hawaii where he met his wife, Nicole. He had been stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, since October 2002. He was a squad leader and was deployed to Iraq in September. Vasquez was a tough, competent soldier who had recently attended Army Ranger School. Mark was active and loved all kinds of sports. He had recently taken up golf and kept up with the Detroit Red Wings. He excelled at skateboarding and break dancing.
After joining the Army in April 1993, Vasquez was first stationed in Hawaii, where he met his wife, Nicole. A few years after they married, their daughter, Breanna, now 6, was born, and later they had a son, Cameron, 2.
Vasquez had been stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., since October 2002. He was a squad leader and deployed to Iraq in September. His family thought he was trained well enough to be OK. They weren’t even in battle; this was a peacekeeping mission.
Vasquez had missed his unit’s first deployment to Iraq while training in the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga.
A practical joker, and at times mischievous, family members said Vasquez was rarely without a smile and knew he wanted to go (to Iraq) … he felt he had missed out before.
“He said he had a job he had to do and he was going to do it. I think that’s probably what he would say (right now) — he was doing his job.
“A fellow soldier wrote: I just heard of Mark’s passing as a message posted by somebody that left a comment on a picture I posted of Mark and I. I am very sorry for your loss, I know it’s been several years since the incident, but as I just found out today I am saddened by the news. I tried looking for Mark several times on Facebook and many other social networks. I served with Mark from 1993-1996. We were battle buddies in Hawaii as were we in the same squad as Dragon Gunners. When we got deployed to Haiti Mark and I nicknamed ourselves “Dutch & Duece” while we played spades. Mark and I were unstoppable. We beat almost every team we played. Mark had a great sense of humor and we razzed guys in our squad, and tried to get a laugh out of everyone. I haven’t seen or heard from Mark since 1996, but he was such a great friend and impacted my life so much that even 15 years later I still remember him and his characteristics. I wish the best for his friends and family that were impacted the most after his death, and only hope that time has had a chance to mend the sorrow you felt.