Oct 18, 2006 By Patty Yauger 4 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – U.S. Marine Pfc. Shelby Feniello, who was killed last week when a roadside bomb exploded in Iraq, returned home Tuesday to his family and friends. The 25-year-old Connellsville Area High School graduate, along with two fellow Marines – Sgt. Julian M. Arechaga, 23, of New York, and Lance Cpl. Jon E. Bowman, 21, of Louisiana – died Oct. 9 while conducting combat operations in the Al Anbar region.

The three were members of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

First Lt. Shawn Mercer, U.S. Marine public affairs officer, said that a memorial service was held for the fallen servicemen prior to Feniello’s journey back to the U.S.

“It is going to be very hard for the family,” said Sheryl Nagy, Feniello’s aunt of the coming days. “We’re a very close-knit family.”

Since being notified of his death, the family has received numerous telephone calls from members of Feniello’s unit to express their condolences to the family and share stories of his bravery along with visits from his childhood friends.

On Tuesday, New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Co. lined Pittsburgh Street with U.S. flags, at the request of family members.

“It is a way for us to pay tribute to him,” said Ken Jaynes, company official.

Feniello, a 1999 graduate of Connellsville Area High School, was a member of the Falcon wrestling team and an avid hunter and fisherman.

After high school, he received an associate’s degree in specialized business information technology and accounting from West Virginia Career Institute in 2002, and worked for Allegheny Power and UPS.

Nagy said the his 2004 enlistment into the Marine Corps came as a surprise to family members, as most thought he would follow in his grandfather’s steps and join the U.S. Air Force when he made his decision to join the military.

“But, he decided on the Marines and he loved it,” she said. “I talked with him at length about what was going on in Iraq and he believed he was doing something worthwhile.

“He wasn’t able to give us a lot of details, but there are good things happening there and he was proud to be a part of that.”

Feniello, meanwhile, was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq and had already received several medals for his service including the Iraqi Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

The day before his Humvee struck the roadside bomb and exploded, he called home.

“He wrote often to his girlfriend, his mom and to his dad,” said Nagy. “And, called as often as he could to let everyone know he was all right.”

Nagy said that she, too, corresponded with her nephew, but found he responded to her form-style letters much quicker than to her lengthy missives.

“All he had to do was just check off the right answers,” she said of their special line of communications. “He was such a wonderful young man. I will miss him very much.”

Pennsylvania Army National Guard Col. John L. Gronski, who served as 2nd Brigade combat commander for a year in the Al Anbar Region said that the area is “extremely dangerous,” with insurgents blending in with the 400,000 residents of the region.

The “Iron Soldier” brigade consisted of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine units in addition to the National Guard, and like Feniello’s II Marine Expeditionary Force, patrolled the capitol city of Ramadi, which is within the Sunni Triangle and referred to as the “toughest piece of real estate in Iraq.”

With persistence and the strong relationship with their counterparts, said Gronski, progress was made in securing the region.

“An indication that the Iraqis felt much safer was when 60 percent came out to vote in (the December 2005) elections,” he said. “A year earlier there had been less than 10 percent (take part in the election).”

The brigade lost several soldiers, said Gronski, but their sacrifice will not be forgotten.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to the Marine’s family,” said Gronski. “(His volunteerism) is an indication of the strong sense of values by the military; they understand the risks they are taking and still place themselves in harm’s way so that their family and friends back home and all Americans are safer and more secure.”

The funeral services are under the direction of Brooks Funeral Home Inc.