Note: This article was originally published on Nov. 30, 2004. We’re re-posting it now for our tribute to Colorado’s Fallen.
A Colorado soldier was killed in Iraq while on patrol Sunday, the
Department of Defense announced Monday.
Staff Sgt. Michael B. Shackelford, 25, of Grand Junction died
Sunday in Ramadi, Iraq. His unit was conducting a foot patrol when
it came under small-arms fire.
Also killed in the attack was Sgt. Carl W. Lee, 23, of Oklahoma
City.
Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment,
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division out of Camp Howze,
South Korea. Soldiers from that outfit deployed to Iraq either to
augment soldiers serving in the country or to replace soldiers who
had completed their tour of duty.
According to the U.S. Armed Forces News Service, Shackelford
graduated in 1997 from Central High School in Grand Junction.
He was stationed in Korea with his unit until it was deployed to
Iraq in October to help support Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he
was a squad leader.
Shackelford’s parents, Andy and Nancy Shackelford, both of Grand
Junction, could not be reached Monday.
As of Monday, at least 1,249 members of the U.S. military have died
since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003.
Of those who died, more than 60 have had Colorado ties.
Staff writer Heath Urie contributed to this report.
