Shea, Kurt Steven
Male
Verified Cpl. Kurt Steven Shea, 21, of Frederick, Maryland, was a U.S. Marine serving with 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force Forward. He was killed in action in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on M
Their Story
Kurt Steven Shea was 21 years old when he died in southern Afghanistan. He was a corporal in the United States Marine Corps, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. His unit was deployed to Helmand province as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) during Operation Enduring Freedom.
In the spring of 2010, Helmand was the focus of a major coalition offensive, Operation Moshtarak, aimed at clearing Taliban strongholds. Shea's battalion was engaged in sustained combat operations in the region, which involved frequent patrols and encounters with insurgent forces.
According to U.S. Department of Defense records, Cpl. Shea was killed in action on May 10, 2010. The specific incident that led to his death was not detailed in initial casualty announcements, which was standard practice at the time for operational security.
His death was recorded in the Defense Casualty Analysis System on the day it occurred. He was one of more than 1,000 U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan in 2010, the deadliest year of the war for American forces.
Shea was from Frederick, Maryland. Public memorials and casualty lists from the period document his service and death, noting his age and unit. No further personal details or circumstances of his final engagement have been widely published in major news archives.
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led combat mission in Afghanistan, began in October 2001 and concluded in December 2014. The conflict in Helmand province during Shea's deployment was characterized by intense fighting in agricultural districts and populated villages.
Explore Further
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led combat mission in Afghanistan in which Cpl. Shea served, began in October 2001 and 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.
