Shelby Feniello killed by roadside bomb on 2nd tour of duty

A Fayette County man "just doing his job" as a Marine serving in Iraq was killed Monday, his father said.

Marine Pfc. Shelby Feniello, 25, of Connellsville, arrived in Iraq about a month ago for his second tour of duty. He was killed Monday when his Humvee ran over an improvised explosive device, his father said.

His father, Richard Feniello, of Connellsville, said Feniello was en route to a firefight near Ramadi, in al-Anbar Province, central Iraq. Two Marines with Feniello also were killed.

"He was an All-American boy," Feniello said of his son. "Take orders and do your duty."

The deaths have not been confirmed by the Department of Defense.

Feniello returned home from his first tour in the war zone on Oct. 11 of last year, almost a year to day of his death. He returned to Iraq for the second time on Sept. 11, his father said.

Feniello, a 1999 graduate of Connellsville Area High School, died about 6 p.m. Iraqi time Monday.

An aunt, Sheryl Nagy, said her nephew's loss leaves a hole in the family. "He had a great personality," she said. "He was always smiling."

Feniello was named "class flirt" in his senior year in high school, his aunt said. "He was always so happy," she said.

The young Marine was an only child. His mother, Kimberly McCune, also lives in Connellsville.

"He was trying to help others who were in trouble," Richard Feniello said. "He knew there was danger. We all knew there was danger."

Feniello said he last spoke to his son on Saturday, when he called. "He had only been there a month this time. He knew it was a bad situation. (Anbar) is where some of the fiercest fighting has taken place."

Before joining the Marines, Feniello held several part-time jobs, his father said. One was with Allegheny Power, another with United Parcel Service. After high school, he attended Westmoreland County Community College. He graduated from WCCC with an associate degree in accounting.

The elder Feniello said his son's plans were uncertain. "He might have stayed in the Marines. I don't know. I think some of those guys change their minds every day."

Tommy Dolde, who served as assistant coach when Feniello was on the high school wrestling team, said was a tough, good-natured youngster.

"He was a great kid and a hard worker," Dolde said. "He never whined about injuries, and you enjoy coaching kids like that."

Robert McLuckey, the former principal of Connellsville area Junior High East, remembered Feniello as "a very nice boy."

"You remember how people treat you. He was always very respectful. He was a kid who interacted well with others."

Feniello served with Charley Company, 1st Marine Platoon, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He joined the Marine Corps in May 2004.

"He was just doing his job," the father said of his son. "He thought he was (doing) right. He was a good guy."

From the Pittsburgh Tribune