York Daily Record -- Mary Wiley's mother-in-law woke her and her husband, Chuck, around midnight Wednesday to tell them that two Army officers were at the door of their Windsor Township home.

"I just kept saying to myself, 'This is a dream,'" Mary Wiley said. "I didn't really want to talk to them, but I knew I had to."

The officers informed Wiley and her husband that their 27-year-old son, Ross E. Vogel III, had died in Iraq. It was his third tour of duty in the country, and he had been there less than a month.

The family still doesn't know the details of when, where and how Vogel died. They will find out more information in the coming days.

A news release from the Department of Defense Thursday morning said Vogel died Tuesday in Kut, Iraq, "of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident." His death is being investigated, the news release says.

A news release from Fort Gordon, Ga., where Vogel was based, said Vogel was found unconscious in his room at Camp Delta and was taken to a medical facility. His cause of death is unknown, the release said.

Vogel worked in communications and was in the process of being promoted when he died, his family said. He was a switch system operator-maintainer with the 67th Signal Battalion, Fort Gordon officials said.

Vogel was the baby of Mary and Chuck Wiley's blended family when the couple married about 13 years ago. They have five children: Michelle Powell, Christin Wiley, Aaron Wiley, Jesse Beinhower and Ross E. Vogel III.

Vogel enlisted in the Army seven years ago, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Jesse, who serves in the Air Force. He re-enlisted after six years, intending to make the military his lifetime career.

"He loved his career and fighting for his country," Chuck Wiley said.

Vogel met his wife, Kristen, while they were in technical school. They fell in love and got married

so they wouldn't be sent to separate bases. They have two children, 12-year-old Logan Lorefice and 5-year-old Ross E. Vogel IV.

Vogel and his family came to York County for Christmas - the first time he had been home for the holidays since joining the military.

Ross and Kristen dropped the boys off with the Wileys and spent some time alone as a couple in the Poconos. Ross and Kristen Vogel returned on Christmas Eve, and the entire family celebrated the holiday together.

"It was a great Christmas," Chuck Wiley said.

Christin Wiley recalled how great her brother looked at Christmas, the last time his sisters saw him. He was big and built.

"We're used to scrawny little skater Ross with the long hair," she said.

The family laughed and cried Wednesday as they sat in their living room, recalling stories about Vogel.

His sister, Michelle Powell, remembered when they lived out-of-state and how they used to make Ross get in the family's pool at night to look for frogs before they hopped in.

"He wasn't afraid of anything," Christin Wiley said.

Vogel also was a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He loved cars and playing the drums.

Chuck Wiley recalled that he and Mary bought Ross a set of professional drums one year for Christmas.

"He was crying when he saw his drums," Chuck Wiley said, breaking down in tears and adding that Ross couldn't believe he got them.

Mary Wiley last saw her son in San Antonio in June. She had met up with her two boys: Ross and Jesse, who is stationed in Texas. It was the first time the three were able to get together in five years.

Wiley said she and Ross were talking one night about him preparing to leave for Iraq. Vogel mentioned how much he loved his wife and how perfect she is.

"He said, 'I just love her so much. I always feel bad when I have to leave her and the boys,'" Wiley said.

Mary Wiley and her two sons spent a week together in Texas, and they watched the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup on television.

Chuck and Mary Wiley were working on 2½ hours of sleep Wednesday as they made calls to relay the news and hosted visitors who expressed their sympathy.

"I feel so bad for his wife and kids," Mary Wiley said. Her daughter-in-law and grandsons are in Georgia, where Ross was stationed.

Vogel's body will be flown to Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del., on Friday.

Kristen Vogel plans to ask the military if her brother-in-law, Jesse Beinhower, can help escort Vogel's body off the plane.

The family plans to lay Vogel to rest in the Red Lion area.

SISTER'S MESSAGE

Michelle Powell posted this message on Facebook in memory of her brother, Ross E. Vogel III, who died in Iraq:

"Oh sweet Jesus please be with our family right now in this time of mourning our sweet Ross, who was a very loved son, brother, father, uncle, grandson and husband.

Please welcome him home and help to hold our family up.

We love you Ross, may your memories live on in our hearts forever. Rest in peace sweet brother. Ross you are a HERO in our eyes! We love you!"



KUT, IRAQ

The Department of Defense said Vogel died in Kut, Iraq.