Location: 1317
Date: 12/21/2004
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
Operation: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Darren VanKomen grew up in Lewiston, Idaho, and enlisted in the military in 1991, a few years after graduating from Culdesac High School in Idaho. He was stationed in West Virginia and Colorado before coming to Fort Lewis for a second time. Twice, he left the army, to explore life as a civilian. Twice he returned, after missing the structure and purpose of the military. “He liked everything about it. He literally felt like he could make a difference,” said sister-in-law Stephanie VanKomen of Orofino, Idaho. “He was right where he wanted to be,” said another sister-in-law, Andrea VanKomen, of Puyallup. “He was really dedicated to serving his country.” VanKomen was a 33-year-old sergeant and unit supply specialist who doted on his large family of six brothers and two sisters. He was the uncle who played basketball and blind man’s bluff with the kids. He was tall and funny, liked to draw pictures of cartoon characters and Conan the Barbarian, and he loved the military. He was a loving and devoted man who doted on his wife, Stephaine, and 12-year-old stepdaughter, Chelsea.