Sgt. McCloskey procession today at 4:30

Fri, 09/25/2009 - 11:20am
By: John Munford

Those who were unable to take part in Wednesday's procession to honor a local fallen soldier will have a second chance to do so today.

At 4:30 this afternoon Sgt. First Class Shawn P. McCloskey will be escorted from Mowell Funeral Home in Fayetteville to St. Matthew Catholic Church in Tyrone.

The route will be Ga. Highway 54 westbound out of Fayetteville then right on Sandy Creek Rd., right on Hwy. 74 and left onto Kirkley Rd. to the church.

McCloskey was killed last week when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. At the time he was patrolling in the Afghan city of Ghur Ghuri in support of combat operations while serving with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

McCloskey is survived by his wife Jessica, daughter Katie and son Collin of Raeford, N.C., parents Patrick and Kathryn McCloskey, sister Kelly A. (McCloskey) Anderson and nieces Morgan and Emma Anderson, all of Fayetteville.

A visitation will be Friday, Sept. 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Tyrone. A vigil for the deceased will begin at 7 p.m. and a funeral mass will be said Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10:30 a.m., also at St. Matthew.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking friends to donate to the Katie and Collin McCloskey scholarship fund at any Regions Bank location.

McCloskey, a native of Hudson, N.Y., was assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, non-commissioned officer professional development ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Diver Supervisor Badge and the Special Forces Tab.

McCloskey’s military education includes the Warrior Leader’s Course, Basic NCO Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Jumpmaster Course, Combat Diver Course, Special Operations Diving Supervisor Course, Air Movement Operations Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course and Special Forces Qualification Course.

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