Vernon R. Widner
Profile
Age: 34
From: Redlands, Calif.
Assigned to the 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.
Incident: Army Spc. Vernon R. Widner died Nov. 17 in Tikrit, Iraq, of injuries sustained earlier that day when his Humvee was involved in a vehicle accident during convoy operations in Bayji, Iraq. Also killed was Pfc. Anthony A. Gaunky.
Died: November 17, 2005
Soldier killed in Iraq followed father’s footsteps
Associated Press
COOS BAY, Ore. — A soldier whose wife and two children live in Coos Bay died from injuries suffered in Iraq, the Army said.
Spc. Vernon R. Widner, 34, and Pfc. Anthony Alex Gaunky, 19, of Sparta, Wis., both members of the 101st Airborne Division, were in a Humvee that was intentionally struck by a civilian vehicle, according to a news release from Multi-National Forces-Iraq.
The attack closely followed an improvised explosive device detonation on the same route, the release said. Widner died Thursday and Gaunky died Friday at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
Widner’s widow told the Register-Guard of Eugene that she initially didn’t believe the Army sergeant who arrived at her front door.
“I thought it was a prank I knew there was a lot of identity theft going around,” Tammy Widner told the Register-Guard of Eugene late Sunday....
Occupation
Incident
Prayers & Messages
Please embrace with all Your love and mercy the soul of this brave soldier, Army Spc. Vernon R. Widner, and comfort him with Your Divine Presence.
Bless his heart and keep his family in Your Hands, Guard them and comfort them.
Amen