Sp4c Frances M. Vega a.k.a. That Girl Benitez (June 1983-November 2, 2003) in San Francisco, California, was the first female soldier of Puerto Rican descent to die in a combat zone.
Bronze Star Medal
Frances M. Vega was born into a military family. Her father was a member of the U.S. Army and stationed in California where Frances was born. Eventually, her father retired and the family moved and settled in Puerto Rico. There she continued her education. A fun loving girl, she attended Antilles High School and graduated in 2000.
Influenced by her military background and by the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks, it wasn't long before she decided to enlist in the Army. There she met her future husband and was married. Vega was assigned with the 151st Adjutant General Postal Detachment 3 at Fort Hood, Texas.
She was deployed to Iraq in what is known as the War on Terrorism. In Iraq she met Sp4c Selian A. Diaz who was soon to become one of her best friends. They had many things in common, parents in the military, husbands in the military and their Puerto Rican background. On November 2, 2003, a ground-to-air missle was fired by insurgents in Al Fallujah and it hit the U.S. transport helicopter (Chinook) which Vega was in. She was one of 16 soldiers who lost their lives in the crash that followed.
Sp4c Frances M. Vega was buried in the National Cemetery in Bayamon, Puerto Rico with full military honors and was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal for bravery and a Purple Heart Medal.
See also
Last updated: 10-15-2005 02:47:19
