File:U.S. Army Captain Jennifer Jill Shafer Odom.jpg

Brunswick People

Jennifer Jill Shafer Odom 1970-199

U.S. Army Captain Jennifer Jill Shafer Odom was killed during a special operations mission in South America. Odom, a West Point graduate and experienced Army pilot, was on a secret reconnaissance flight in Colombia, one of thousands of American anti-drug missions flown in the region.

She was the wife of U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charles F. Odom, retired.

Born Feb. 10, 1970, in Frederick, she was a daughter of John A. Jr. and Janie Webber Shafer of Knoxville.

She graduated from Brunswick High School where she was valedictorian in 1988. She was member and vice president of the National Honor Society. She was on the It's Academic Team. She was a Distinguished American High Student; in Who's Who; and was a Maryland Distinguished Scholar finalist. She was also a member of the varsity basketball team; a Scholar Athlete, and a member of the Drama Club.

She received two appointments to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, one from Sen. Paul Sarbanes, and one from Rep. Beverly Byron. She graduated from West Point in 1992 in the top 25 percent of her class, and was also on the dean's list. She graduated from flight school at Fort Rucker, Ala., in 1993.

Capt. Odom's first duty assignment was at Headquarters European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, for four years, where she flew over 100 missions in 40 different countries in Europe, North Africa, Middle East and the former Soviet bloc. She had flown extensively in Bosnia-Hertzegovena in relief missions. Following six months training in fixed-wing aviation in 1995, she returned to flight duty in Germany.

In 1997, she took military intelligence officer training at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., then went on Toronto, Canada, where she received aircraft transition training in the RC-7 aircraft. She was then assigned to counter-drug intelligence in Panama, where she flew missions in Central and South America until the time of her death.

Capt. Odom was a member of First Baptist Church, Brunswick.

Surviving in addition to her husband and parents are two stepsons, Charles J. and Daniel G. Odom, both of El Paso; one brother, Millard Wesley Shafer of Knoxville; maternal grandmother, Rita V. Webber of Brunswick; paternal grandparents, John A. Sr. and M. Frances Shafer of Knoxville; two aunts, Sharon Good, and Pat Lancaster and husband Daniel, all of Knoxville; and three cousins, Eric Good, and Laura and Shawn Lancaster.

Courtesy of Jim Castle

Capt. Odom was preceded in death by maternal grandfather, Millard P. Webber; and one uncle, Earl L. Good Jr.