Cantu, Shane William
Male
Verified U.S. Army Private First Class Shane William Cantu, 20, of Corunna, Michigan, was killed in a hostile incident in Chark-e, Afghanistan, on August 28, 2012.
Their Story
Shane William Cantu was a 20-year-old from Corunna, Michigan, who enlisted in the United States Army. He served as a Private First Class assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team based at Camp Ederle in Italy.
On August 28, 2012, Cantu was killed in Chark-e, a village in the Tagab district of Afghanistan's Kapisa province. According to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports, he died from wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
Cantu's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2012, Kapisa province was an area of significant insurgent activity, with U.S. and Afghan forces conducting counterinsurgency operations in the Tagab and Alasay valleys.
His body was returned to Michigan, where he was buried at Pine Tree Cemetery in Corunna. The Department of Defense officially announced his death on August 30, 2012.
Cantu was posthumously promoted to Private First Class. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and other service medals. His name is inscribed on the Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial.
Explore Further
Pfc. Shane Cantu was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
