Hercules, Russell Shane Jr

Russell Shane Hercules Jr. was a 22-year-old soldier from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He served as a Specialist in the U.S. Army, assigned to Company F, 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

On October 1, 2009, Hercules was killed by enemy small arms fire at Bagram Airfield, a major U.S. military base north of Kabul, Afghanistan. The Department of Defense stated the incident occurred while he was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Hercules was deployed during a period of intense conflict in Afghanistan. Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign, began in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. By 2009, the conflict had entered a critical phase with a surge in U.S. troop levels and a corresponding increase in combat operations against Taliban and other insurgent forces.

His death was reported by multiple news outlets, including The Tennessean, which covered the loss of a local soldier. The Army released his name and unit, and he was returned to his home state for burial.

Specialist Hercules is memorialized on the 101st Airborne Division's 'Screaming Eagle' casualty list and at Fort Campbell's memorial events. His name is inscribed on the Tennessee Fallen Soldiers Memorial in Nashville.

Russell Shane Hercules Jr. was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.

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