Army Sgt. Louis R. Fastuca

Died July 5, 2010 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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24, of West Chester, Pa; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy; died July 5 at Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

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Soldier leaves behind son, fiancee

The Associated Press

Army Sgt. Lou Fastuca liked staying busy. In high school, he played piano and was on the varsity ice hockey team. He also played ice hockey for a local club and basketball for a Catholic youth program. He briefly attended Temple University, where he played on the varsity roller hockey team.

During summer vacations, he participated in community-service projects in Mexico, Appalachia and Camden, N.J.

Fastuca, of West Chester, Pa., joined the Army two years after earning his diploma from Malvern Preparatory School in 2004. He went on dozens of missions and felt he had found his calling.

One of his first assignments was to serve in the honor guard at former President Gerald Ford’s funeral.

Fastuca was proud of his service, said Malvern Prep President Jim Stewart. “He came by school in his uniform and he told us how happy he was,” Stewart said.

Fastuca, 24, was in Warduk, Afghanistan, on July 5, when the vehicle he was in was struck by a bomb, killing him. He died of his wounds later that day at Forward Operating Base Shank.

He was assigned to Camp Ederle in Vicenza, Italy.

Survivors include his son, Julius Alzona, fiancee, Ashley Wilcox, and parents, Robert and Monette Fastuca.