Lance H. Vogeler

United States Army Sergeant First Class Lance H. Vogeler passed away on October 1, 2010 while deployed in Afghanistan.

Vogeler was born in Manchester, Maryland and raised in Fredrick, Maryland along with his brother, Chris. His childhood was loving, having been part of a very large, tight-knit family. Throughout his childhood, Vogeler was heavily involved in sports, including baseball and soccer. Additionally, he participated in Boy Scouts and enjoyed inline skating. He and his wife, Melissa, met in downtown Savannah, Georgia when he returned from his first deployment to Iraq. After sharing an instant connection, the pair began their relationship and were later married.

Inspired by a poster he saw in the recruiter’s office for the Army Rangers, Vogeler decided to enlist in the US Army in May of 2001 and work towards becoming a Ranger. He loved the camaraderie that came with being a Ranger. Vogeler was a very respectable man with goals to do his best and be successful in his career. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. Throughout his career, Vogeler was deployed seven times to Afghanistan and four times to Iraq, all in support of the War on Terror. A highly decorated and educated serviceman, Vogeler earned numerous awards and completed multiple courses, including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, the Infantry Mortar Platoon Course, Warrior Leader Course, and Jumpmaster Course, among many others. While on his last deployment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Vogeler was killed in action during a heavy firefight while conducting combat operations, leaving behind his pregnant wife.

Melissa currently resides in Georgia with her son, Colin, who was born after Vogeler’s premature passing. Together, they love to go fishing and Colin is part of a karate program for children with special needs. Melissa works as a teacher at a non-profit school for children with special needs and learning differences. In the future, she is excited to continue to watch her son grow and see what the future holds for him. Melissa is eternally grateful to Tunnel to Towers for providing her with financial stability with the donation of a mortgage-free home, as it gives her and Colin more security and allows her the opportunity to provide more resources to Colin if needed. Finally, she would like others to know that there was nothing more important to her husband than his family and fellow soldiers. He was loving, loyal, and supportive to all he knew. Vogeler is deeply missed.

United States Army Sergeant First Class Lance H. Vogeler is survived by his loving wife, Melissa, and his son, Colin.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has paid off the mortgage of the Vogeler family home through the Gold Star Family Home Program.