Morgantown in Monongalia County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Shane Childers

Salt Rock, WV

Photographed By Bradley Owen, June 24, 2021

1. Shane Childers Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

First Lieutenant
United States Marine Corps
March 21, 2003 - South Iraq
America's first casualty in "Operation Iraqi Freedom.” Killed in firefight while securing an oil platform in the first hours of the war.

Erected by Parents Judy and Joseph Childers.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, 2nd Iraq. A significant historical date for this entry is March 21, 2003.

Location. 39° 37.245′ N, 79° 58.002′ W. Marker is in Morgantown, West Virginia, in Monongalia County. Memorial can be reached from Don Knotts Boulevard (U.S. 119) half a mile north of Callen Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located at the south edge of the parking area for Caperton Trail Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 482 Don Knotts Blvd, Morgantown WV 26501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 1Lt Jacob "Jake" Fritz (here, next to this marker); SSG Gene A. Vance, Jr. (here, next to this marker); Sergeant George A. Mitchell, Jr. (here, next to this marker); SSG Anissa Shero (a few steps from this marker); The Ghost of a Train

Photographed By Bradley Owen, June 24, 2021

2. Shane Childers Marker

Marker is located in the front right of the photo.

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Beacon (approx. 0.2 miles away); Monongalia County War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ford House (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Morgantown.

Also see . . . Shane Childers: First U.S. Casualty in Iraq (NPR, March 18, 2007).

"Marine 1st Lt. Therrel Shane Childers was 30 years old when he was killed in Iraq on March 21, 2003. He was the first U.S. serviceman to die in the Iraq war."

(Submitted on July 5, 2021.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 153 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 27, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.