SGT Louis Fastuca, Army, died July 5, 2010 at Abdulhamid Kalay, Afghanistan of wounds suffered from IED explosion, resulting from an insurgent attack on his vehicle; the soldier was 24. SGT Fastuca was assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Camp Ederle, Italy, and died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. The soldier was survived by his son, Julius Alzona, fiancé, Ashley Wilcox, and parents, Robert and Monette Fastuca.

“He was so talented on so many levels,” Louis’ friend William Shaw told the Delco Times. “I don’t think he realized his abilities, but the Army helped him realize what he had. He was the type of person you wanted to be around because he was a good man.”

The Travis Manion Foundation honored SGT Fastuca through the Character Does Matter program on Oct. 17, 2012 his story inspired 250 students at his alma mater, Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, PA.