Services Held For Oklahoma Soldier Who Died In Iraq

QUINTON, Okla. (AP) -- An Army soldier from Quinton who died last month in Iraq is remembered at funeral services today as a patriotic outdoorsman.<br/><br/>The program for the funeral of Specialist Joshua

Thursday, January 4th 2007, 5:47 am

By: News On 6

QUINTON, Okla. (AP) -- An Army soldier from Quinton who died last month in Iraq is remembered at funeral services today as a patriotic outdoorsman.

The program for the funeral of Specialist Joshua D. Sheppard included a picture of a bass on it, a nod to Sheppard's love of outdoor activities like fishing and hunting.

His family had encouraged those attending the service to wear flannel clothing, which they said Sheppard wore for much of the year when he was in Oklahoma.

The U.S. Defense Department has said the 22-year-old Sheppard died December 22nd in Baghdad after being wounded when his patrol came under small-arms fire.

Members of a Kansas church that frequently protest during the funerals of soldiers did not do so. Members of the Patriot Guard did attend.

The group of motorcyclists that supports soldiers' families placed 60 US flags near the school gym where the funeral service was held. They then took those flags to a cemetery near Kinta, where Sheppard was buried, for graveside services.