Army Pfc. Anthony A. Gaunky

Died November 18, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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19, of Sparta, Wis., assigned to the 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Nov. 18 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained Nov. 17 when his Humvee was involved in a vehicle accident during convoy operations in Bayji, Iraq. Also killed was Spc. Vernon R. Widner.

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Sparta soldier dies in Iraq where brothers served

The Associated Press

SPARTA, Wis. — A 19-year-old soldier from Sparta has died in Iraq, where three of his brothers also have served.

David Gaunky of Sparta said the family was informed Friday his son, Anthony Alex Gaunky, died from injuries suffered when a vehicle came across the road and crashed into his convoy. He said authorities were still investigating why the other vehicle swerved.

He said his son suffered severe head trauma and other injuries, requiring multiple surgeries, and was airlifted to Germany but died.

His son, who was with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Ky., was sent to Iraq in August, he said.

Gaunky said two of his other sons are serving their second tours in the region, 24-year-old Adam with the Navy aboard the aircraft carrier Tarawa, and 22-year-old Don with military intelligence in Iraq, attached to the 18th Airborne Corps. Don’s twin brother Bob recently got out of the Navy and also had served in Iraq, he said.

Anthony Alex Gaunky graduated last year from Sparta High School.

His father said Alex knew in middle school he would join the military, and he joined up soon after graduating from high school.

While in Iraq, he kept in touch with the family in telephone calls, Gaunky said.

The family asked that doctors take any of his viable organs for transplants, he said.

“So at least that means some part of him lives on and he’s still trying to save lives,” his father said.

Forty-nine military personnel from Wisconsin have died in the Iraq war.