Vat Pjetraj, 76, passed away Saturday, March 1, 2008, in Fayetteville. Vat (Walter) was born Aug. 7, 1931, in Arst Shkoder, Albania, to Nan and Staka Pjetraj. Vat was raised in a poor but loving family wrecked by World War II and the rise of Communism. Vat spent most of his early life in Communist concentration work camps. In his teenage years, he escaped and fought against Communism. He passed through Europe to Germany and joined the U.S. Army in 1957 in Frankfurt. He served in the 101st Airborne Division and then the 11th Airborne Division and 24th Infantry Division. While in Germany, he met Maria Glowania, his wife and the mother of their three children. Vat was transferred to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. He completed Special Forces Training and served in 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Special Forces Groups (ABN). He served two tours in Vietnam in 1965 and 1967. In 1971, Vat served a year in the Republic of Korea. There, he experienced a near life-ending injury, but fought back to life to take care of his family. Vat