Jonathan Antonio Vega Yelner, 24

Air Force, Senior Airman

Based: Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom

Died: April 29, 2008

Bagram, Afghanistan

Single

Gender: Male

Hometown: Lafayette

High School: De La Salle High School (Concord)

Burial: Oakmont Cemetery, Lafayette, Calif.

Yelner was proud of his Jewish and Puerto Rican heritage. His many interests included lacrosse, martial arts and role-playing games. When Yelner achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 2002, his mom helped him find a quote for his speech. He chose Shakespeare: "Be not afraid of greatness."

Bryan E. Bolander, 04/29/2008

David L. McDowell, 04/29/2008

Eight memories of Jonathan Antonio Vega Yelner

“

Jonathan, my friend, buddy, and rock during deployment. I remember how when times got tough you shrugged it off as it was nothing. You never let anything that happened get you down. When they called you to replace me you answered without hesistation. When I learned you had passed I blamed myself since you replaced me. Now that the years have passed I guess your faith has rubbed off on me because I realize that you were doing what you loved; serving your country. Not a day goes by that I do not think of you and your sacrifice. I work twice as hard, I love my wife and kids twice as much, I strive to be the best twice the normal. Because I am living your life and mine. You will always be in my heart and on my mind. You will never be forgotten and will always be remembered.

Love,
Wand

” — Daniel Wand, September 16, 2013 at 10:35 a.m.

“

Well what can I really say except thank you with all heart and soul to one of the most brave and selfless serving soldiers I have ever met. My name is SPC. Parker James Hoogesteger and I was SGT. Yelners Gunner on the day we were hit by an IED that sadly ended his short lived life. I did not really know him that well personally but on that satin that brief little time I chatted with him up until the tragedy I felt I knew my whole life. I often carry a tramendous amount of guilt and blame and pain for his family and friends because I was schedualed to drive on that day, he saved my life by sacrificing his for mine and lord knows I've carried it almost as a burdon of guilt and shame he is gone. I've never really had the opportunity to express this to anybody and I do want his friends and loved what a special son and loved one they truly were blessed with. I was scheduald on the roster to drive that day but do to lack of experience on the gun as yelner had with driving he had the roster switched so i would be on the gun and he wanted to drive. He and I were planning a mid tour Euro Trip leave together where he and I would tour Europe together for the first two weeks of leave and then part ways to spend the last two weeks with our friends and family back in the states, we were planning this all out dicussing in detail during what we thought would be a fast trip back to the saftey of FOB Kutchbach in Tag Ab Valley when the tragedy suddenly ended his life wounding myself and two other in the vehicle. I've been living and hiding the guilt and pain ever since and have never spoken of it until now and want all his loved ones and those close to him to know that he lives in my heart and that I may not really have lived my life as thankfully and carefully as I should have but I am eternally greatful of his sacrifice and are very much thankful to be here and alive today because of his sacrifice. Yelner is a true hero, a true lord, and a true savior and I thank him and his family for their sacrifice and are forever in their debt. I love all my brothers and sisters in arms and after my rock bottom tumble I would have never been able to recover back the Hoogy I was when I served along side them. Because of all the mental stress of combat I had a bit a mental fallout for a while and I apologize to friends and loved ones I scared over that ordeal but I am striving hard to bring back the Hoogy everybody knew me as, and finally speaking out about all this lifts a lot of the pain off my heart and soul. In the short time I knew him Yelner became more than just a friend or a hero on that day, I want all his loved ones mother and father to know he became my savior, and I truly am forever greatful. Amen. Rest In Piece my brother Jonathan Yelner and I am forever greatful of your sacrifice. SPC Parker James Hoogesteger

” — Parker James Hoogesteger, October 6, 2017 at 9:07 p.m.

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Jonathan Antonio Vega Yelner, 24

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Eight memories of Jonathan Antonio Vega Yelner

Share a memory of Jonathan