Shanfield, Derek Lee
Male
Verified Sgt. Derek Lee Shanfield, 22, of Hastings, Pennsylvania, was a U.S. Marine killed in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 8, 2010. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune, North Ca
Their Story
Derek Lee Shanfield was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. In 2010, he was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, serving with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, which was operating under Regimental Combat Team 7 in Helmand province.
Helmand was a center of the conflict in 2010, a year that saw a major U.S. troop surge and intense fighting in Taliban strongholds. The 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines was engaged in counterinsurgency operations in the province's volatile districts.
On June 8, 2010, Shanfield was killed during a hostile incident in Helmand. The Department of Defense announced his death the following day. He was 22 years old.
Shanfield was one of 499 U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan in 2010, the deadliest year of the war for American forces. His death occurred during a period of sustained, high-intensity combat aimed at clearing insurgent sanctuaries.
He was a native of Hastings, a small borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. His death was reported by local and national news outlets, which noted his service and his home community.
Explore Further
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led combat mission in Afghanistan, 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.
