Hospital Corpsman Third Class Shecklen was a member of the U.S. Navy serving with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was listed as Missing in Action while tending his wounded comrades on 19 July 1953 and presumed dead on 20 September 1954. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. He had boxed with the Golden Gloves for the U.S. Navy in 1952.

Shecklen was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.