Troup son makes ultimate sacrifice
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Proud mother Denina Kelsey said son Samuel was her "heart and soul." The 24-year-old died in Iraq and funeral services are Friday.

Funeral services are Friday at First Baptist Church in Troup for 24-year-old Samuel Kelsey of Troup. (See full obit page 2A.)

Sgt. Kelsey died in Tunnis, Iraq from wounds he suffered after an improvised explosive device blew up near his location. Another solider in his squad was hit with an IED that damaged his legs before Kelsey ran to help him and another one detonated.

Kelsey was a 2001 graduate for Troup High School where he played basketball, baseball and ran cross country. He was also a member of the homecoming court his sophomore, junior and senior years of high school.

Family friend and Troup Middle School principal Ava Johnson spoke fondly of Kelsey as she remembered his coming to TMS.

"From the first day here he could not be ignored," Johnson said. "His class is a very close knit group. They might fuss but woe to the person that crossed one of them because they would have to deal with all of them."

Troup yearbook photo Sam Kelsey is shown with friends Adrian Garza, Clint Johnson, Sheldon Sanders and Robert Halbert from the Class of 2001 at Troup High School.

Many of those friends have come to the side of Kelsey's mother, Denina Kelsey, to show their support. Ms. Kelsey last saw her only child in September when he was home on leave.

"Sam started out as a typical 'know-it-all' teenager and developed into a true American hero," Johnson said.

Kathy Marshall and Karen Agnew, Troup High School teachers, reflected on Kelsey's high school days. They agreed that one word summed up this young man. That word was SMILE.

"Sam was such a happy, funny kid," Agnew said. "You just couldn't help but smile when you were around him."

Marshall said it just seemed like yesterday when he was in her business law class. She agreed wholeheartedly that his smile was infectious.

Both of the ladies said they were not the least bit surprised to hear that he risked his life to save another.

"That's just the kind of person he was," Marshall said.

Upon enlistment in the Army, Kelsey went to basic in Fort Leonardwood. He had one tour of duty in Korea and two tours in Iraq. He had reenlisted prior to this last tour.

"He told me that what he was doing in the service made a difference," Johnson said. "He had previously been awarded a Purple Heart. This trip he made the ultimate sacrifice by saving the life of one of his men, only to lose his own."

Kelsey was on his second tour in Iraq when he was killed. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Stewart, Ga.

According to the Patriot Guard Riders Forum website, the family has requested that the Patriot Guard Riders attend his service.