Kenneth R.  “Kenny” Shadrick (August 4, 1931 – July 5, 1950)

Near Sojong, South Korea on this day in 1950, Private Kenneth Shadrick,
a 19-year-old infantryman from Skin Fork, West Virginia, becomes the
first American reported killed in the Korean War. Shadrick, a member of
a bazooka squad, had just fired the weapon at a Soviet-made tank when
he looked up to check his aim and was cut down by enemy machine-gun
fire.

A U.S. soldier with a 2.36-inch bazooka prepares to take aim at a
North Korean tank during the Battle of Pyongtaek. On the right
is Private Shadrick.  

This picture was mailed home to Shcarick’s parents signed, the            
hard labor kid.