DeKalb County soldier killed in Iraq
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Dead is Staff Sgt. Shannon D. Taylor, 30, of Prater Road in the Four Seasons area of DeKalb County.
Taylor, a member of the 278th National Guard unit based in Sparta, had been in Iraq since November, 2004. He and two other members of the 3rd Squadron were killed early Sunday by hostile fire near Forward Operating Base Bernstein in northeastern Iraq.
Taylor had been in the National Guard for seven years and had just recently re-enlisted for a six year term.
His father, DeLane Taylor, also of Smithville, said he received the news of his son’s death Sunday morning.
Fighting back tears, DeLane Taylor said he was very proud of his son.
“The wife of one of his leaders that’s in Iraq right now said he gave my son great praise and that he did a good job over there. Yes, I’m very proud of him.”
Taylor said he had talked to his son on Friday afternoon just a few hours before he was to go out on duty.
“He told me progress had been made in Iraq and he thought the military effort was making a difference.”
Details of the attack and when the body will be returned to Smithville were not readily available.