Lt. Col. Karen Wagner, 40
San Antonio, Texas

Karen Wagner spent her career in the Army. She joined the military a week before her 23^rd birthday and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in August. The 40 year-old, originally from San Antonio, is listed among those missing and presumed dead from the September 11^th attack on the Pentagon.

Lt. Col. Wagner was the Deputy Chief of Staff of Medical Personnel at the Pentagon in the office of the Surgeon General. She lived in Alexandria, Virginia, but listed Texas as her home.

Lt. Col. Wagner’s previous assignments included posts at the 85^th Medical Evacuation Hospital at Fort Lee, Virginia; the 187^th Medical Battalion at Fort Sam Houston; the 57^th Evacuation Hospital at Wurzburg, Germany, and Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Her awards and decorations were numerous, distinguished and served to reinforce her reputation for excellence. She was recognized with the meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), Army Commendation Medal, (1OLC), Army Achievement Medal (3OLC), Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon. She was also awarded the Headquarters, Department of the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Sister Kim Wagner added, “I remember sitting at my mother’s dining room table when Karen said to me, ‘Kim, if I die first I want you to make sure I have my glasses on.’ I asked her why, and she said, ‘I want to make sure I can see. There might be a sign saying heaven is to the right and hell is to the left. I want to make sure I'm going to the right.’”

Karen is survived by her mother, two brothers and a sister.