Army Spc. Frances M. Vega
Death: Nov 02, 2003
of Fort Buchanan Puerto Rico; assigned to the 151st Adjutant General Postal Detachment 3 Fort Hood Texas; killed Nov. 2 in an attack on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter near Fallujah Iraq. Puerto Rican soldier killed in Chinook helicopter downing buried with full military honors Associated Press SAN JUAN Puerto Rico — Army Spc. Frances M. Vega one of 16 people killed in the crash of a U.S. transport helicopter in Iraq was buried Nov. 9 at a ceremony kept private at her family’s request the military said. Vega20 was buried at the Puerto Rico National Cemetery in suburban Bayamon with full military honors Army spokesman Jose Pagan said. Vega was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star for bravery and a Purple Heart Pagan said. “We feel overwhelmed by her loss but at the same time with pride that she was a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice” he said. Vega’s body arrived from Dover Air Force Base Del. on Nov. 8 Pagan said. The military did not officially notify the media because of the family’s request for privacy he said. Vega one of the few female soldiers killed in the U.S. occupation of Iraq was born in San Francisco but Army records show her permanent address in Puerto Rico. Her father a retired soldier and other relatives live in the U.S. territory. Vega who was based at Fort Hood Texas was killed with 15 other people near Fallujah Iraq on Nov. 2 when a ground-to-air missile struck the Chinook helicopter they were riding. The attack wounded more than 20 people. Operation Iraqi Freedom