Yance Tell Gray
Army SSG
From: Ismay, Custer County
Date of Death: 9/10/2007
Conflict: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Staff Sergeant Yance Gray was from Raeford, North Carolina, moving there from Ismay, Montana. He grew up in Montana, attending Whitney Creek country school through the 7th grade and graduated from Plevna High School in the spring of 2000. He joined the Army in June 2000, a desire he had from childhood.
He was deployed four times during his military career: from January 2003 to August 2003 he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His other deployments were in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2004 to April 2004, from July 2006 to December 2008, and his current tour was to end in November 2007.
He was a Staff Sergeant, Infantry Team Leader with 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
His awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Non-commissioned Officers Professional Development Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Parachutist’s Badge.
Yance was one of seven soldiers from Fort Bragg who died in a vehicle accident in Iraq.
