November 19, 2009 – Shawn Patrick Hefner, 22, of Hico, Texas; assigned to 2nd
Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary
Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Nov. 13, 2009 while supporting combat operations
in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was promoted to be a Marine lance corporal
on Nov. 1 and scheduled to return to his home base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., within
a week.
His flagged draped coffin was returned to Waco, TX, and was
escorted by Patriot Guard Riders of North and Central Texas. The journey took
the procession from Waco to his hometown of Hico, which is located in the heart
of Texas. The procession drove through several small towns and communities. The
highway was lined by citizens waving American flags as a sign of respect and
gratitude for his sacrifice on their behalf. Many of the citizens place their
hands over their hearts others saluted and many were overcome with emotion.
As his procession arrived in Hico the entire town of 1300 citizens greeted
their hero home. An equestrian group paraded down Main Street and made a circle
around the funeral home.
LCpl. Hefner was fun-loving and fearless, said
his father, Patrick Hefner of Hico. “He was an outdoorsman,” said his father, a
former Marine. “He loved to fish and camp. If it could be done outdoors, that's
where he wanted to be.”
LCpl. Hefner was born Dec. 4, 1986, in Kansas
City, Mo., and moved with his family to Hico in 1991. He was a 2006 graduate of
Hico High School.
He joined the Marines in January 2008 and was deployed
to Afghanistan in June. Almost immediately, he demonstrated his toughness, when
he received a concussion after his Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle was
rocked by an explosion.
His mother, Robin Hefner of Hico, had instructed
her son to document his tour of duty with photographs. LCpl. Hefner faithfully
carried out his mother's request – even after that attack.
“They were
carting him off in helicopters, and he was lying on his back taking pictures of
his buddies up in front of him,” his father said.
In addition to his mother and father, LCpl. Hefner leaves behind a brother, a
sister, a grandfather, and a grandmother.
Information and Video by Jerry Castillo / USFallen.org
Music: Amazing Grace, God Bless America, and Please
Remember
LCpl Shawn P. Hefner
