Transcript Lt Col Kevin M. Shea, USMC USAFA, Class of 1989

Lt Col Kevin M. Shea, USMC
USAFA, Class of 1989
Memorial Bust/Figure
Justification for
Dedication into
The Hall of Heroes
at the USAF Academy
15 March 2007
Memorial Board Presentation
Lt Col Kevin M. Shea, USMC
•
•
•
•
•
Inspirational Leader
War Hero Twice Over
Exemplary Marine
Family Man
Model Warrior for USAFA and All Service
Academy Cadets
Lt Col Kevin M. Shea, USMC
• Lt Col Shea knew his goal was to serve as a line
officer in the US Marine Corp.
• His desire came true in May 1989 when he was
granted a cross-commission into the USMC as a
2nd Lt. after completing his USAFA B. of S. in
General Engineering
• He served combat duty in various conflicts and
operations distinctively, paving the way for future
USAFA cross-commissions into the USMC –
a proven combat warrior and soldier that started
his career at the USAFA Prep School & USAFA
Inspirational Leader
• Company Commander, Platoon Commander,
Operations Officer, Executive Officer.
• Selected to be a Battalion Commander.
• Support Company Detachment Commander, for the 9th
Communications Battalion in OPERATION DESERT STORM
• Liaison Officer for Marine Forces Central Command
(MARCENT) G-6, and JCSE Task Force Commander,
Combined Special Operations Task Force, during
OPERATION DESERT THUNDER
• Communications Officer (G-6) Regimental Combat Team 1
(RCT-1), 1st Marine Div, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM II
Inspirational Leader
• Lt Col Shea’s superior leadership with Regimental
Combat Team 1 (RCT-1) in Iraq, led to the total
success of completely destroying the enemy in
Fallujah from September - November 2004
• Leadership in both Fallujah 1 & 2 operations, also
known as OPERATION VIGILANT RESOLVE &
OPERATION AL FAJR
• Lt Col Shea was killed during an attack on the unit
command center by an enemy 122mm rocket on
the 14th of September 2004, his 38th birthday.
• He was selected to Lt Col prior to Sept 2004 and
posthumously promoted.
War Hero Twice Over and More
• Deployed and engaged in OPERATION DESERT
STORM with the 9th Communications Battalion,
1st MARDIV (I MEF)
– His direct efforts aided in the successful change and
implementation from teletype to digital communications
which became a key to winning the overall war in
support of MEBs assigned to the unit
• Commanded Charlie Company (Airborne),
Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE),
Operations Division, Plans and Engineering officer
– Supported 4 US Special Operations Command missions
• JCSE Task Force Commander during OPERATION
DESERT THUNDER
– Thwarted Saddam Hussein’s threats against Kuwait
sovereignty
War Hero
• His direct efforts as Communications Officer G-6 in RCT-1,
1st Marine Division, led to the final victory that plagued
Coalition Forces & Marines since the beginning of
OPERATION VIGILANT RESOLVE, April 2004, bringing
much needed peace to the city of Fallujah; led to the
successful OPEARTION PHANTOM FURY in Sep-Nov 2004.
• His leadership saved lives on convoys which fell under
attack, carrying his commanding officers and ensured
continuous, uninterrupted communications for an
equivalent of eight battalions over 5000 square mile
covering the Al Anbar Province (largest and most
dangerous tactical AOR in Iraq) and Babil Province areas
of operations involving secure communications.
• He directly ensured the Battalion and below levels had
secure combat effective communications saving hundreds
of lives while destroying hundreds of the enemy.
Combat Driven Warrior
• His experience and expertise led to training
several Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU SOC, Special Operations Command) Force
Reconnaissance Platoons in deep
reconnaissance, direct action
communications missions
• Directly supported & led mobile training
teams in support of combat against
counter-narcotics missions in LATAM AOR
Exemplary Decorated Marine
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bronze Star with Bronze “V” device for Valor
Purple Heart
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star device
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy-Marine Corp Service Commendation Medal, Gold Star
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Combat Action Ribbon with Bronze Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
SWA Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (two)
• He was a Jump Master and Combat Diver
Decorated Marine
• Nominated for the Bronze Star with “V” for Valor
device one month before his death.
• Excerpts from his Bronze Star Citation:
– …exceptional leadership and initiative provided reliable
and consistent tactical communications to RCT-1, which
attributed directly to saving Marine lives, and enabled
timely operational reporting which led to the death or
capture of hundreds of insurgents.
– His leadership and expertise orchestrated the engineer,
installation, operation, and maintenance of the largest
tactical regimental communications network in
the history of the Marine Corps.
– Read all his entire citations attached as handouts.
• This rising star and future commanding leader
was cut short as his career was just blossoming.
Future Leader Cut Short
• He was selected to be the Commanding Officer of the
9th Communications Battalion which was set for June 2005
• Ironically this is the same unit that a then
Lt Col Robert M. Shea commanded during OPERATION
DESERT STORM and the same unit that the then
Lt. Kevin M. Shea started his combat exploits in defeating
Saddam Hussein’s army in Kuwait.
• Lt. General Robert M. Shea was the former Director for
Command, Control, Communications and Computer
Systems (J-6) C4 Systems for the Joint Chief’s of Staff
(JCS) & principle advisor to the Chairman, JCS on all C4
systems matters w/in the Department of Defense.
• Lt Col Kevin M. Shea is one of the highest ranking Marine’s
to die in the on going OPERATION IRAQ FREEDOM.
Family Man
• Despite his numerous mission & exercise
deployments, sea duty & combat duty operations,
Lt Col Shea maintained a well balanced and
healthy family on the home front
• Spouse Ami, daughter Brenna Shea (12) & son
Michael Shea (9)
• Involved with community and church, Lt Col Shea
was an exemplary family man & community leader
Model for All Academy Cadets
• Honorary US Naval Academy graduate after tenure
as Professor of Electrical Engineering at the US
Naval Academy in 2003
– Naval Post Graduate School grad. with a Master’s
degree in Electrical Engineering (MSEE)
– Assistant Coach for USN Academy Rugby Team
• Lettered on USAFA Varsity Football Team as
defensive end on the 1987 Freedom Bowl team
• Played on the USAFA Rugby Team which directly
contributed to their becoming National Champions
in 1989
Model for All Academy Cadets
• Career officer with two combat
deployments, numerous combat support
deployments and world-wide operational
missions
• Well decorated and mission oriented
• He epitomized the USAFA cadet & USAF
character and core values mold/motto:
– Integrity 1st, Service Before Self, Excellence In
All We Do
• Lt Col Kevin M. Shea exemplified the USMC
core values: Honor, Courage & Commitment
Model for All Cadets
• First of a kind combat casualty Golf Tournament
named in his honor to raise funds for the Lt Col
Kevin M. Shea Memorial Scholarship Fund which
benefits children of the US Marine Corps
• Lt Col Shea demonstrates he is deserving of being
amongst those dedicated in the Mall of Heroes
– Lt Col Shea is the third USMC cross- commission from
USAFA to be killed in on-going combat operations and
the first to die since the Vietnam war.
– He is the first and thus far only USAFA Class of 1989 to
die in the War Against Terror in Iraq and elsewhere
– Kevin is the first ever USAFA graduate with an Honorary
US Naval Academy graduate title to die in combat ops.
– He is the only cross-commission USAFA Preparatory
school graduate to die in combat; USAFA Prep Sch 1985
What the Leadership Saw in Kevin
• The then commander of RCT-1 (Col. John Toolan):
• “He played a role in both Fallujah 1 & 2, in that the
entire RCT command and control system was
created and developed by Kevin and served to
facilitate the smooth execution of all combat
operations, even after he was killed.”
• “The reality of his role as the RCT G-6, was that he
was tireless, incredibly courageous during several
ambushes, and always took care of his Marines
and Sailors before himself. He epitomized selfless
service, and was widely loved and respected
because of his leadership.”
– Brigadier General, John Toolan, USMC
Principal Director, Asia and Pacific Affairs
Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)
From Those Who Knew/Served w/ Lt Col Shea
• “Lt. Col. Shea was a role model Marine. He was everything
a Marine should be.”
Lance Cpl. John H. Wells
Choctaw, Okla. Radio operator with RCT-1.
• "It's a rare honor (bestowed for) having one of the biggest
impressions of anyone here," (about the USNA honorary
graduate degree given to Lt Col Shea in 2003 after finishing
his professorship as an Electrical Eng. instructor.).”
Major Jeff Nagel
– “Shea also made a big impression as a Marine leader,” Nagel said.
“He had all the raw tools - humility, compassion, intelligence,
strength. But despite all those attributes, he never rested on his
laurels.”
• “He led from the front and he led by example.”
Lt. Col. Austin Renforth
(Longtime Shea friend and fellow rugby player)
From Those Who Knew/Served w/ Lt Col Shea
• “I respected him tremendously and felt honored to
have known him.”
Mr. Jack Freeze (fellow USN Academy instructor)
• “I knew Kevin from the All-Marine Rugby Team in
1992 and from the Command and Control Systems
Course in Quantico in 1994. Great athlete, hard
core leader, super-funny guy...a Marines' Marine.
A loss to our Corps and to all who knew him.”
Semper Fi
Lt Col Philippe "Boz" Rogers
From Those Who Knew/Served w/ Lt Col Shea
• “He was an innovator, a visionary, an intellect, one
tough guy, and a very good friend. He will be
sorely missed.”
Lt Col Paul A. Miller, USMC
AC/S G-6, 1st Marine Division, Ar Ramadi, Iraq
• “All of these men gave their lives for their brother
Marines and Sailors here, and for all Americans in
defense of the freedoms we are all privileged to
enjoy. America owes these Marines and their
families an endless debt of gratitude.”
Lt Col Willy Buhl, USMC
From Those Who Knew/Served w/ Lt Col Shea
• “Kevin and I lived across the hall from each
other at The Basic School in Quantico, VA,
in 1989. He carried the heavier M60
machinegun on all the hikes - normally it
gets passed around - he carried it the whole
time. That is one small example of his
character. He was the kind of man and
citizen that represents the very best of
America. I will miss him.”
Lt Col Michael Shoup, USMC
Stafford, VA
From Those Who Knew/Served w/ Lt Col Shea
• "I served with Kevin at First Force Recon
Company from 1996-98. He was universally liked,
trusted and respected. He took a genuine interest
in subordinate's welfare. He was the eternal
optimist towards underachievers whom he
mentored tirelessly. The Marine Corps and
America is a lesser place for his passing. Thank
God for men like Kevin Shea. I was privledged to
have served with him."
Lt Col Trent Blackson, USMC
US Special Operations Command
Tampa, FL
Semper Fi