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Killed on February 25, 1991

Lance Corporal Troy L. Gregory, USMC, Richmond, Virginia

Troy was a graduate of Henrico High School where he excelled in athletics as well as in the classroom. He joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 1986 and attended Virginia Union University on a full academic scholarship. In December 1990, Troy was deployed to Saudi Arabia. In February of 1991, his unit 1st Battalion, 11th Marines occupied a new position to help support Task Force Papa Bear. LCPL Gregory and others on a security patrol were assigned to investigate an enemy bunker. Gregory stepped on an Iraqi land mine and was mortally wounded.

Corporal Jonathan M. Williams, US Army, Portsmouth, Virginia 

Jonathan graduated from Green Run High School in 1986 and joined the Army.  When he was deployed to Saudi Arabia, he was serving in the Army Reserves. His goal was to open a beauty salon with his mother. Jonathan’s 14^th Quartermaster detachment suffered the greatest number of casualties of any allied unit during Operation Desert Storm. Twenty-eight soldiers were killed and 99 wounded in a SCUD missile attack on their barracks. Portsmouth City Council renamed a section of road in Portsmouth City Park Cpl. J.M. Williams Avenue in his memory. The words on his headstone end with “My Darling Son”.

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Killed on February 26, 1991

Staff Sergeant Kenneth B. Gentry, US Army, Ringgold, Virginia

Kenneth was killed when his Bradley tank was struck by a T-72 tank round in southern Iraq. Gentry was a gunner on the Bradley tank. Gentry was 32 years old at the time of his death and was survived by his wife, and two children. In 2006, on the 15th anniversary of his death, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution no. 475 celebrating his life and service.

First Lieutenant Terry Plunk, US Army, Vinton, Virginia

Terry graduated in 1984 from William Byrd High School as valedictorian. He attended Virginia Military Institute where he majored in civil engineering Terry was deployed to Iraq during the outbreak of the Persian Gulf War. He had risen to the rank of First Lieutenant with Company A of the 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade as a Combat Engineer. While clearing the Al-Salman Airfield of mines, one of the mines detonated, killing Terry and six other soldiers instantly. 

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Killed on February 27, 1991

Major Thomas C. M. Zeugner, US Army, Petersburg, Virginia

Tom graduated from Fork Union Military Academy in 1972 and Virginia Military Institute in 1976, where he was known for his sense of humor and his practical jokes. Major Zeugner was a specialist in explosive ordinances. He deployed to Iraq during Desert Storm/ Desert Shield. He died from wounds sustained while deactivating an explosive device.

Sergeant Jason C. Carr, US Army, Halifax, Virginia

Jason graduated from Halifax County High School and enlisted in the United States Army in the spring of 1985, . His unit was deployed to the Persian Gulf in January 1991. Before arriving in the Middle East, Jason had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was a 67 T-UH60 helicopter mechanic and crew chief gunner with the 1st Infantry Division. Jason and his crew were transporting other soldiers back to port when his helicopter was downed by enemy ground fire. The devastating crash killed Jason and six others.

First Lieutenant Donaldson T. Tillar, US Army, Emporia, Virginia

“Donnie” was the only U.S. Military Academy (West Point) graduate who was killed in action during the Persian Gulf War. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) before being accepted into West Point. 1LT Donaldson P. Tillar died when his UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter was shot down on the way back from picking up another downed helicopter crew.

Operation Desert Shield Ended on February 28, 1991