Fallen Soldier: Donald V. Stacy

Staff Sergeant Donald V. Stacy, 23, of Avondale, Ariz., died June 28, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

SSG Stacy enlisted in the United States Army right after graduation. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. He had previously served in Iraq in 2006 and 2008.

As a high school student, Stacy was a member of the Avondale Youth Advisory Commission. The city of Avondale flew all flags at half-staff, and officials presented his family with a proclamation from the mayor to honor his service to the city and the United States. He holds a Bronze Star and Purple Heart among other awards he has received since joining the Army in 2005.

Jacob Vela, one of Stacy’s closest friends, commented that when SSG Stacy was committed to something, he didn’t waver. “There was no stopping him, no telling him no, he can’t,” said Vela, a Marine. “That only made him push harder.”