Posted 6:28 pm Monday, December 17, 2007
Soldier From Troup Killed In Tunnis, Iraq
By LAUREN GROVER
Staff Writer
An only child, 24-year-old Samuel Kelsey, of Troup, died on Thursday and left his mom with a broken heart.
"He was my life, my breath, everything I did in my life I did for my child," said Denina Kelsey, crying. "He was my only child, and I am his only parent."
Kelsey died in Tunnis, Iraq, from wounds he suffered after an improvised explosive device detonated near him. A man in his squad was hit with an IED that damaged his legs before Kelsey ran to help him and another one detonated, Ms. Kelsey said.
Staff Writer
An only child, 24-year-old Samuel Kelsey, of Troup, died on Thursday and left his mom with a broken heart.
"He was my life, my breath, everything I did in my life I did for my child," said Denina Kelsey, crying. "He was my only child, and I am his only parent."
Kelsey died in Tunnis, Iraq, from wounds he suffered after an improvised explosive device detonated near him. A man in his squad was hit with an IED that damaged his legs before Kelsey ran to help him and another one detonated, Ms. Kelsey said.
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"He felt strongly about wanting his men, every one of them, to come home," she said. "He was saving somebody else's life, and my child lost his life," she said.
A 2001 Troup High School graduate, Kelsey was part of an active, tight-knit class, said family friend Ava Johnson, of Troup.
"They were every teacher's favorites, and they just were all there for each other - still very close," Ms. Johnson said.
The phones are ringing off the hook, she said, as Kelsey's friends and classmates have called each other for support.
"We all celebrate together, and we all grieve together," Ms. Johnson said about the Troup community. Many other young men and women from Troup are currently serving in the military, she said.
"We really kind of hoped we'd miss this one, but we didn't," she said. "Sam's going to be missed."
Ms. Johnson said he and his mother were extremely close friends.
"She adored him, and he adored his mother," she said. "Just broke her heart."
Kelsey was funny, and made friends easily, Ms. Johnson said. Ms. Kelsey agreed.
"What anybody else would call friends, Sam called family," she said.
Kelsey was on his second tour in Iraq when he was killed. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Stewart, Ga.
Funeral services are pending at Cottle Funeral Home in Troup.
Updated Sunday, Dec. 18, 2007 at 11:42 a.m. CST
A 2001 Troup High School graduate, Kelsey was part of an active, tight-knit class, said family friend Ava Johnson, of Troup.
"They were every teacher's favorites, and they just were all there for each other - still very close," Ms. Johnson said.
The phones are ringing off the hook, she said, as Kelsey's friends and classmates have called each other for support.
"We all celebrate together, and we all grieve together," Ms. Johnson said about the Troup community. Many other young men and women from Troup are currently serving in the military, she said.
"We really kind of hoped we'd miss this one, but we didn't," she said. "Sam's going to be missed."
Ms. Johnson said he and his mother were extremely close friends.
"She adored him, and he adored his mother," she said. "Just broke her heart."
Kelsey was funny, and made friends easily, Ms. Johnson said. Ms. Kelsey agreed.
"What anybody else would call friends, Sam called family," she said.
Kelsey was on his second tour in Iraq when he was killed. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Stewart, Ga.
Funeral services are pending at Cottle Funeral Home in Troup.
Updated Sunday, Dec. 18, 2007 at 11:42 a.m. CST
