Family: Soldier who died joined Army was patriotic

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March 5, 2010

By BRIANA BIERSCHBACH Associated Press Fri Mar 05, 2010, 02:30 PM CST

SPIRO, Okla. — The family of a soldier with Oklahoma ties who died in Afghanistan says he joined the Army out of a sense of patriotism.

The U.S. Department of Defense reported earlier this week that Sgt. Vincent Owens died at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, after his transport vehicle was attacked.

Owens was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

His hometown was listed as Fort Smith, Ark., but the family said he grew up in LeFlore County.

Owens’ uncle, Gary Hope of Spiro, says Owens had left for Afghanistan Feb. 14. for his second tour.

Owens had been married to a Fort Smith woman for only a few weeks.

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