STUTTGART, Germany -- Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), paid their respects to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Douglas Vose during a ceremony at Panzer Kaserne Chapel Aug. 4.
Vose died from wounds received during combat operations on the afternoon of July 29, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
"His detachment [Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha 0114] had been tasked to move into the area to determine a suitable polling location for the upcoming national elections," said the Task Force 10 commander.
As the combined Afghan and U.S. element moved into the Uzbin Valley, a known hot spot for insurgent activity, they decided to clear the area on foot. Vose volunteered to clear the low ground, where the enemy laid in wait.
"Doug's element immediately returned effective fire, but he knew that they needed to quickly maneuver on the enemy, and he was on the ground physically leading his men when he was hit," added the TF-10 commander.
His men called for an air medevac, and the helicopter arrived quickly, performing his extraction while the area was still receiving enemy fire. He died as a result of his wounds, even after the heroic actions of the pilots. The coalition element killed numerous enemies, including four high-ranking enemy commanders.
Vose, who was 38 at the time of his death, entered the Army in April 1989. He later attended the SF Qualification Course, graduating in 1999 as a communications sergeant. In 2006, he completed the Warrant Officer Basic Course. For much of his final deployment, he served as the liaison officer between Combined Joint Task Force 82 and Task Force 10, the 1-10 SFG(A) headquarters element.
"I needed someone whom I trusted in that position," said the TF-10 commander, "someone of high quality to interface with the CJTF in Bagram, and Doug was that man, but he desperately wanted to get back onto the ground with his men. When I told him to report back to his detachment, no one could suppress the smile on his face."
Vose was back with his team for less than a week before he was killed. "Doug gave his life for his brothers, and for that alone, he is a hero," said Lt. Col. George Thiebes, the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) commander.
"But he also gave his life for a greater cause: to ensure that the Afghan people could participate in the democratic process of governance and thus influence their own future - politically, socially and culturally. He will not be forgotten," he said.
The Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, rotate regularly into Afghanistan to support the International Security Assistance Force mission.
"Chief Vose believed in this mission," said Thiebes. "He died leading his brothers in combat, and he fought to be with them. I have no doubt that some of them are alive today because of his actions."
Vose is survived by his wife, Nicole; sons, Aidan and Connor, and daughters, Sharon and Noel, as well as his mother, Paulette.
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