Army Cpl. Shawn D. Hensel

Died August 14, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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20, of Logansport, Ind.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Aug. 14 in Baghdad of wounds sustained during an enemy attack.

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Northern Indiana soldier killed during fighting in Iraq

The Associated Press

LOGANSPORT, Ind. — A soldier from northern Indiana was fatally injured during an enemy attack in Iraq, the military said Aug. 15.

Army Cpl. Shawn Hensel, 20, of Logansport died Aug. 14 in Baghdad of his wounds and the circumstances of his death were under investigation, the Department of Defense said.

Hensel’s family said Army representatives told them that Hensel was caught in crossfire.

“It’s still hitting us,” said Hensel’s father, David.

Shawn Hensel left for Iraq in early April after being stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., since last July. The last time his parents saw him was in June 2006, when he was home on a 10-day leave in Logansport, about 40 miles northeast of Lafayette.

Shawn Hensel attended Logansport High School and earned a general education development certificate before joining the Army. He was married last December.

He was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) at Fort Lewis, Wash.

David Hensel said his son would be remembered for loving his family, friends and kayaking.

“He was a pretty good kid,” he said. “He loved to help people. He had two sisters that really loved him.”

Hensel was the 89th member of the military from Indiana to die since February 2003 after being sent to the Middle East for the war in Iraq.