Spc. Russell S. Hercules Jr, R.I.P.

Name: Army Spc. Russell S. Hercules Jr.

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Died: October 01, 2009

(The following is taken from www.examiner.com)Monday, Gov. Steve Beshear recognized the sacrifice of a Fort Campbell soldier who died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

According to the Department of Defense, Spc. Russell S. Hercules Jr., 22, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., died Oct. 1, 2009 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the Pathfinder Company, 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

He is the first 159th CAB soldier to be killed in combat since the brigade deployed last December.

A native of Murfreesboro, he is survived by his wife and son, Victoria and Christopher; stepdaughter Candence; mother and stepfather, Cheryl and Denver Tipton, also of Murfreesboro; and father, Russell Hercules Sr. of Winchester. His son, Christopher, was born in July, while Spc. Hercules was home on leave.

Hercules was a 2006 graduate of Blackman High School. "We're just devastated," Blackman Principal Gail Vick told The Tennessean. "We just found out about it around 4 p.m. (Friday). We're proud of what he did for his country. "As the Blackman family, we're deeply saddened, and our hearts go out to his family and friends." Players, fans and others held a moment of silence for Hercules prior to Friday night's football game.

Gov. Beshear will order that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of Spc. Hercules's interment for which arrangements are still pending.