R.I.P. Spc. Gary L. Gooch

Name: Army Spc. Gary L. Gooch

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Age: 22

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From: Ocala, Fla.

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Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

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Incident: Army Spc. Gary L. Gooch died Nov. 5 in Jelewar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

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Died: November 05, 2009

(Taken from www.gainesville.com) OCALA -- An Ocala soldier was killed when his vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device, the Department of Defense confirmed Monday.

Spc. Gary L. Gooch Jr., 22, of Ocala and Spc. Aaron S. Aamot, 22, of Custer, Wash. died Nov. 5 in Jelewar, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

The brigade deployed to Afghanistan in July 2009. This was the first deployment for both soldiers.

Gooch, a 2006 graduate of Dunnellon High School, is remembered by family and friends as someone who was always fun to be with.

“Gary was truly wonderful, always getting people to laugh no matter what the situation,” his sister Keely Murphy said by telephone on Monday. “Mom, Gary and I were like the Three Stooges.”

Murphy got out of the U.S. Army four months ago, having served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Her unit was scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. Had she remained in the Army, she said she and her brother would have been in Afghanistan at the same time.

“I am just glad I got out to be here for mom,” Murphy said. “She raised a wonderful, wonderful boy. She did a wonderful job.”

Samantha Cruz and Gooch became friends at Dunnellon High School.

“He was just a very fun person. Everybody knew him. He didn’t stick to a particular crowd. He was everybody’s friend,” Cruz said. “I am going to miss him a lot. He was a very good person. I wish he was still here.”

Gooch enlisted in the U.S. Army on Aug. 14, 2006 in Jacksonville, Fla. He reported to Fort Benning, Ga. on Aug. 29, 2006 for infantry training, then reported to Fort Lewis, Wash. on Jan. 9, 2007 and was assigned as a Grenadier to the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Gooch’s military awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon.