Henry Timothy Vakoc ("VAH-kitch"[1]) (January 8, 1960 – June 20, 2009) was a Roman Catholic priest and a United States Army chaplain during the Iraq War, attaining the rank of major.

[2] He was critically injured on May 29, 2004, when his Humvee was struck by an IED (improvised explosive device) as he was returning from celebrating Mass for soldiers.

He was also a member of the fraternity staff, visiting chapters in the midwestern and northeastern United States.

[7] In a letter to his sister, Vakoc said, "The safest place for me to be is in the center of God's will, and if that is in the line of fire, that is where I will be.

"[7] Vakoc was injured on May 29, 2004 – the day before his twelfth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood[6] – while returning from saying Mass for soldiers in the field in Iraq when his Humvee struck a roadside bomb (IED).

He was treated at an Army field hospital in Baghdad and was then evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.

[3] Due to the seriousness of Vakoc's injuries and his unstable condition, Coleman was able to expedite the granting of the award.

His first message to the visitors who presented the flag was "TIM 4F" (the military code for unfit for duty) and then "OK".