Thanks for the post. I lived in Morgantown and was living there for 9-11 and until 2003. Sad days. I can't say that I knew him but I went into the bike shop there along the bike path. More than likely I ran into him or was even waited on by him but I honestly can't say yes or no to that. You know how it is...people enter and leave our lives like bus boys in a restaurant.
After he was killed, I tried to get the bike trail running from Morgantown to Kingwood renamed in his honor. Not being politically savy, I didn't have much success. When I left the state, I talked to Dr Whalen about it but never really had the contacts to make it happen. Sent some letters to the state senators and stuff but I guess they were too busy doing their in fighting crap to care. Last I heard they did list one mile of the trail in his honor. What a bunch of bull. They should have named every school in the state for him instead of senator byrd.
I was planning on putting on the back of my deuce a tribute to him. As soon as I can raise some cash to make it happen, I plan to have it painted on. I am concerned some SF guy might take offense to a non-former SF'er having such a tribute. Some can be touchy about such things. I'm too old to get my butt kicked, I hurt too much the next day. Probably too slow to run away either LOL.
Anyway was thinking about putting on there
Operated in honor of Gene Arden Vance, Jr
Staff Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces
Born US Army Hospital Frankfurt, Germany 30 Nov 63
Taps Shkin, Afghanistan, 18 May 02
Visit
www.genevancejr.org
Your thoughts?