Army Spc. Collin R. Schockmel

Died January 16, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

19, of Richwood, Texas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Jan. 16 of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using grenades during security and observation operations in Ramadi, Iraq.

Fort Carson soldier killed in combat in Iraq

The Associated Press

FORT CARSON, Colo. — A soldier from the 2nd Infantry Division died of combat wounds in Iraq, the Defense Department said Jan. 19.

Spc. Collin R. Schockmel, 19, of Richwood, Texas, died Jan. 16 in Ramadi after his unit was attacked with grenades.

Schockmel was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Carson.

At least 183 soldiers from Fort Carson have died in Iraq since the war began in March 2003.

Schockmel’s mother, Kristin Shinn of Sierra Vista, Ariz., said her son had been home for a two-week leave over Christmas. He had been back in Iraq about a week when he was killed.

“He was full of energy — just nonstop,” Shinn said of his visit.

Schockmel joining the Army after dropping out of high school surprised Shinn, who later understood the move.

“I think he just wanted to live his life to the fullest and he decided it’s my life and he wanted to do it,” she said.

An outgoing youth with a dry sense of humor and standout wrestler, Schockmel joined the Army in September 2005 after turning 18, Shinn said. After about 10 months of training with the brigade, he left for Iraq in October.