Life moves fast forward for most of us…it is easy to forget that men and women are serving in harms way. I am privileged to have a good friend (Pat Fensom) who has served two tours in Afghanistan. Pat is a warrior. He serves in Special Forces as a Green Beret. I was scared when he was deployed. I wanted to share an email he sent me yesterday of one of his friends who was killed serving in Afghanistan…Pray for his family…pray for those who have suffered loss and injury…pray for those still serving.
As the list of names grow, I feel like I can honor their memory and sacrifice by offering a little insight to you.
Shortly after getting to work this past Monday, I was told the news of 4 SF Soldiers from my old unit were KIA. I asked for the names and when I heard Shawn’s name my heart sunk. Shawn came to my old company in ’99 and we hit it off. I left to instruct shortly after but he would stay in touch. He eventually became an instructor and we would cross paths, especially after I finished my last OEF tour and returned to the SF School. After he was promoted and knew he was returning to lead a team, he started coming by to talk and ask questions. He was motivated and excited to lead his guys in battle. We discussed many scenarios, he asked me what I would do in different situations etc. We had good talks. He was sincere in his service and committment to the Nation. He took his calling to lead men in combat especially the Green Berets on his team seriously and with passion. I last saw him a week prior to him flying overseas. He was focused. He was a quiet professional. I will miss him. (see below)
HOPE MILLS — Master Sgt. Shawn Elliot Simmons, 39, Green Beret and Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha Team Sergeant in the U. S. Army, was killed in the line of duty on a recovery mission near Khosrow-E Sofia, Afghanistan.
A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Master Sgt. Simmons served in the U. S. Army for more than 16 years. Shawn and Tricia were married July 19, 1992, at Bethel AME Church, and from this union, two children were born.
Shawn was always active in the church, starting at his home church, Greater Mount Zion P.B. Church. Having a desire to know the Lord as his Savior, at the age of 12, Shawn confessed Christ and was baptized by the Rev. C.K. Steele at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. Shawn continued to stay active in church; he and his family joined his mother at Bethel AME Church. Upon being stationed at Fort Bragg, he and his family became active members of Cliffdale Christian Center in Fayetteville. He was considered a leading role model for children in the Hope Mills community.
Shawn’s distinguished military career began in February 1992 as a power generation equipment repairman in Karlsruhe, Germany. In 1995, he was assigned to the 307th Forward Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. In May 1997, he began the Special Forces Qualification Course and he earned the coveted “Green Beret” in 1999 and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg as a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha engineer sergeant. He left the battalion in 2005 to become an instructor at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. He returned to the battalion in December 2007.
He leaves to cherish his memories a loving and devoted wife, Tricia; daughter, Erin; son, Justin; mother, Alberta Jones Simmons; and a host of other relatives and friends.
