Fire Control Chief Jeffery Warren Shukers, A Sailor's Story
Fire Control Chief Jeffery Warren Shukers, A Sailor's Story
Fire Control Chief Jeffery Warren Shukers was born on February 24, 1962, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Union–Whitten High School in 1980 and enlisted in the United States Navy shortly thereafter, beginning a career rooted in technical skill and maritime service.
Shukers specialized in electronics and fire control systems, a field central to modern naval operations and shipboard defense. He was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, where his expertise supported the complex systems required to operate and protect a forward-deployed naval vessel.
During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Fire Control Chief Shukers deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of the U.S. Navy’s response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Like many sailors during the Gulf War, his service involved long deployments, extended readiness, and the constant demands of operating far from home.
On December 22, 1990, while returning from authorized shore leave in Haifa, Israel, Shukers was aboard the ferry Al Tovia, which was transporting sailors back to USS Saratoga. The ferry sank, and Fire Control Chief Jeffery Warren Shukers drowned in the accident.
He is buried at Union Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His service reflects the commitment of Navy sailors who supported Gulf War operations at sea and whose lives were lost in the course of duty, even outside of combat.
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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
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