Bringing Home a Hero, Marine LCpl Shawn P. Hefner - KIA

Nov. 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 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was promoted to 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.

Video Description:

Music
Amazaing Grace
God Bless America
Please Remember

Video Production-
USFallen.org
Jerry Castillo - Producer