8-18-2005
By Chris Tramel
A local soldier has been claimed by hostile fire during the War in Iraq.
Family members confirmed to The Middle Tennessee Times that 30-year-old Sergeant Shannon Taylor of Smithville was killed in action while serving near Tuz, some 180 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad.
According to a press release, Major General Gus Hargett, Tennessee Adjutant General, says three Tennessee Army National Guard soldiers serving with Troop E, 2/278th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were killed by hostile fire in Iraq. Officials say the incident occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 13, near Forward Operating Base Bernstein, in Northeastern Iraq.
The other two soldiers killed are identified as 35-year-old Staff Sergeant Ashbury F. Hawn, II, of Lebanon, and 22-year-old Sergeant Gary L. Reese of Ashland City. All three soldiers were members of the 3rd Squadron, 278 RCT, and assigned to Troop E, 2nd Squadron.
As of press time family members say they have not heard any details as to Taylor's death, only that he was killed in action. However, a Department of Defense release says they died on August 14th, in Tuz, Iraq, of injuries sustained on August 13th where they were conducting a mounted patrol. Their HMMWV came under attack by enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.
On Friday U.S. forces mounted an attack at Tuz, but officials would not give any further details. A total of 1,850 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion.
Taylor had been serving in Iraq since November. He was only recently made a sergeant in the regiment. He is survived by his father Delane Taylor of Smithville, his mother Donna Pedigo, sister Michelle Bullard, grandmother Ressie Taylor, grandparents Della and Richard Poston, special aunts Elene Ray and Ruth Cantrell, special cousins Rejena Turner, Greg Ray and Shane Turner, and his very special nieces Lexi and Taylor Bullard. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers W.B. Taylor and Arnold Murphy.
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