TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - The body of a U.S. marine slain last week in Kuwait when
two gunmen fired on American soldiers during a training exercise was back in
his hometown Sunday, officials said.
A military honor guard was on hand when the body of Lance Cpl. Antonio J.
Sledd arrived here late Saturday. A military funeral service is scheduled
for Tuesday at Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg.
Another Marine, Lance Cpl. George Simpson of Ohio, was wounded in the ambush
during the training exercise in Failaka, an island 10 miles east of Kuwait
City.
The two Kuwaiti gunmen, cousins aged 21 and 26, drove up in a pickup truck
and opened fire on members of the 11th Marine Expeditionary engaged in urban
assault training. The attackers then drove to a second location and attacked
again before being killed by Marines.
Kuwaiti officials said the two men had trained in Afghanistan and fought
against anti-Taliban forces. The Kuwaiti government denounced the attack as
an act of terrorism.
Sledd, 20 and a Tampa native, was assigned to the 11th Expeditionary unit,
which is based in Camp Pendleton, about 35 miles north of San Diego.
Visitation for Sledd will be held at the Roel Funeral Home in Carrollwood in
suburban Tampa from 2 to 5 p.m., officials at the funeral home said. Funeral
services Tuesday were set to begin at 11 a.m.
AP-ES-10-13-02 1548EDT