Army Cpl. Jimmy L. Shelton

Died December 3, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.; killed Dec. 3 when his forward operating base was attacked by enemy forces using mortars in Bayji, Iraq.

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Army announces deaths of two Fort Campbell soldiers in Iraq

The Associated Press

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Two Fort Campbell soldiers died in Iraq during the last week, the Army post said Dec. 9.

Cpl. Jimmy Lee Shelton of Lehigh Acres, Fla., died Dec. 3 in Bayji, Iraq, during a mortar attack, Fort Campbell said in a statement. Shelton, 21, was a cavalry scout assigned to Bravo Troop, 1st Battalion, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.

Pfc. Christian Siekert, 20, of Lovelock, Nev., died Dec. 6 from non-combat injuries, Fort Campbell said. It did not disclose the cause of his death, but said the incident remained under investigation.

Siekert was an infantryman assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.

Shelton entered the Army in March 2004 and arrived at Fort Campbell in August 2004, the Army said. He is survived by his father, Burgess A. Shelton, of Alva, Fla., and his mother, Donna C. Shelton, of Belle Glade, Fla.

Shelton had been stationed in Iraq since Sept. 20, according to his family, and made the rank of corporal just two days before his death.

Siekert entered the Army in February 2005 and arrived at Fort Campbell in June, the Army said. He is survived by his mother, Margaret William, of Pismo Beach, Calif., and father, Curtis Siekert, of Lovelock, Nev.

A memorial service for the soldiers will be held in Iraq, and Fort Campbell has a monthly remembrance ceremony for fallen soldiers.

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Airborne soldier with Florida ties dies in Iraq

The Associated Press

ALVA, Fla. — An Army corporal from Florida has been killed in Iraq, his family said.

Cpl. Jimmy Lee Shelton, 21, of Alva, was killed Dec. 3 by several rounds of mortar fire, his family said. Shelton was part of the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Ky. The Department of Defense did not confirm the death Dec. 6.

Shelton had been stationed in Iraq since Sept. 20, according to his family, and made the rank of corporal just two days before his death.

Friends who gathered to remember Shelton on Dec. 5 talked about his love of fishing and eating fast food and how he gave support via cell phone to friends.

“He was friends with everybody,” his father, Burgess Shelton, told The News Press in Fort Myers. “Jimmy didn’t know any strangers.”

Before signing up for the Army in October 2003, Shelton worked as a correctional officer for four months. He had hoped to use his Army experience to become a Florida Highway Patrol officer.