PHILADEPHIA, PA, USA
U.S. Army
SSG, COMPANY D, 2ND BATTALION, 29TH INFANTRY, FORT BENNING, GA
BARIALAI, AFGHANISTAN 05/01/2009
Staff Sergeant William D. Vile, 27, died May 1st, 2009 when his unit encountered direct fire from insurgents. Two other soldiers were killed during the attack in Afghanistan’s Konar Province.
Vile’s mother, Donna, travelled to the Dover Air Force Base Sunday as her son’s flag-draped coffin arrived back home. DNA tests are expected to be returned later in the week to confirm the identity of the remains, but military officials confirmed Vile was killed in action.
Staff Sergeant Vile joined the Army shortly after graduating from Lincoln High School in Northeast Philadelphia. He received two Purple Hearts for wounds sustained supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
“He was very, very good at what he did and if anybody could have got away, he would if they could have got away, because somebody can strike and it’s all over,” Donna Vile said.
Staff Sergeant Vile was set to be married this summer. He was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.