SSG Sanchez was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico on 28 April, 1956. He entered the United States Army on 30 December, 1975, graduating from indirect fire infantryman’s school, he served both stateside and in Germany. He was promoted to Sergeant and appointed squad leader. After reenlisting for CH-47 Chinook helicopter school, SSG Sanchez was assigned to Task Force 160. He served as a crew chief in Alpha Company, 159th Aviation Battalion at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
The accident that claimed his life on a CH-47 Chinook, #845, occurred on 10 March, 1983 on South Fox Island, Michigan at the northern tip of Lake Michigan, where they were planning and developing new doctrine, tactics, and techniques that have made this unit what it is today.
He
was married to Maria Sanchez-Velez and had one son, Luis.
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TODAY, WE ARE DEDICATING SANCHEZ HALL, LOCATED TO THE RIGHT REAR OF THE REGIMENT HEADQUARTERS, TO STAFF SERGEANT LUIS ANTONIO SANCHEZ WHO ENTERED THE UNITED STATES ARMY ON DECEMBER 30TH, 1975, GRADUATING FROM INDIRECT FIRE INFANTRYMAN'S SCHOOL. SERVING BOTH STATESIDE AND IN GERMANY, HE WAS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT AND APPOINTED SQUAD LEADER. REENLISTING FOR CH-47 CHINOOK HELICOPTER SCHOOL, STAFF SERGEANT SANCHEZ WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 160TH AVIATION BATTALION. THE ACCIDENT THAT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF STAFF SERGEANT SANCHEZ AND HIS FELLOW CREWMEMBERS ON AIRCRAFT 845, OCCURRED ON MARCH 10TH , 1983, ON SOUTH FOX ISLAND AT THE NORTHERN TIP OF LAKE MICHIGAN. STAFF SERGEANT SANCHEZ AND HIS CREWMEMBERS WERE HELPING IN THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THE NEW DOCTRINE, TACTICS AND TECHNIQUES THAT HAVE MADE THIS UNIT WHAT IT IS TODAY. STAFF SERGEANT LUIS SANCHEZ' S MEMORY AND CONTRIBUTION CONTINUE ON IN THE TRADITION OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND THE NIGHT STALKERS.
I carry the soul of my father, SSG Luis A. Sanchez, with me every day and I know he is watching over me and mother. I know he would proud of what I made of myself because I now serve my country with honor and that's the why he was, so I'm told. But there's a big part missing since I was a baby when he passed on, I every got the chance to know him.
PO3 Luis A. Sanchez Jr
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