HICO, Texas — The death of a serviceman or servicewoman is hard for any city, but it's especially difficult for the small town of Hico, southwest of Fort Worth.
Fewer than 1,400 hundred people live there, and they are mourning the first in their town to die in the wars in the Middle East: Lance Cpl. Shawn Patrick Hefner of the U.S. Marines.
As his father rang the bell of freedom, the entire town of Hico shared his pain. Lance Cpl. Hefner died in Afghanistan just one month before he had been scheduled to come home.
"Last week, nearly everybody you talked to was upset and crying," said Hico resident Nancy Smith. "The fact that he was getting ready to come home bothered them. They wish he could have come home."
More than half of Hico lined the route as Hefner's remains were returned to his home town. The school district bused in all the students from third grade up.
As he shared Hefner's yearbook photos with us, the school Superintendent Rod Townsend recalled an earlier visit from the young Marine, right after boot camp.
"When he left, the thought went through my mind: 'This kid is gonna be OK; he's found his calling in life. He has a direction and he knows what he wants,'" Townsend said.
What Shawn Hefner wanted was to be a Marine, just like his dad.
The Marine Corps honored Hefner by sending a full detail to Hico, to present his parents his medals, including the Purple Heart.
In a town of just 1,400, everyone close to his age just lost a friend.
"He was just a wholesome, sweet guy," said Felisha Stringer. "We all got along. It's a small town, so you get to know a little bit about everybody."
Stringer said when Shawn Hefner joined the Marines, everyone was really proud of him.
And in Hico tonight, they still are.
E-mail greaves@wfaa.com
