This week I found out the sad news that my cousin, Shawn, was killed in combat while serving in Iraq on Monday. My thoughts and prayers go out to his parents, sisters and new bride. Shawn was really making a difference in his life and working hard to make the world a better place by serving his country. We'll all miss his jokes and never forget our memories of him. He will be remembered as a Hero for his ultimate sacrifice. I can only hope this war will soon end so no other families will bear such losses.
Here is what the local press has written:
Logansport, IN - The fight for peace is over for Indiana soldier killed after only four months in Iraq.
His teacher and even some of his classmates are learning about the loss of 20-year-old Army PFC Shawn Hensel.
At Logansport High School, they will observe a moment of silence Thursday to honor a local man in the news and Wednesday, the news was not good.
"It was just quite a shock," said John Morgan, PFC Hensel's former high school history teacher. "It was a very somber feeling just to know someone who went to Logansport High School has died in Iraq."
Hensel was reportedly killed in a crossfire in the fourth month of his first Iraq deployment. Morgan knew Private Hensel well. "He was quite a character, liked to joke around and have a good time." But he says he worked hard when it came time to finish the job.
"He was really a bright kid," said Morgan.
Hensel left school in 2005 just short of graduation but worked hard to earn a GED and get into the military.
"He was just looking forward to serving in Iraq just to see what it was like. The military life really appealed to Shawn," said Morgan, who saw him just before his deployment.
Like others in his hometown he says Shawn was proud of is country.
"Tragic...pulls your heart strings," the commander of the local VFW Post described. "It's hard on everybody."
Other Vietnam veterans at the post also know about losing a 20-year-old comrade.
"You think about it all your life. You really do. It goes away sometimes and comes back. But it's always in the back of your mind," said Navy patrol boat veteran Mickey Brechbiel.
Teacher John Morgan says he wrote PFC Hensel's name on the chalk board for his class to see Wednesday. "I just hope out of all of this Shawn will always be remembered as a hero to the students at Logansport High School."
As he was deployed last spring, Private Hensel's mother told his hometown newspaper she was "scared to death." But proud of her only son.
It is not easy for Shawn's mother to stop crying."I can stop for a second, and that's about it. Because I miss him so bad. Every time I talked to him on the phone, he'd say, 'I love you, Mom,'" Beth Hensel said.
Shawn's father hopes people remember one thing about his son.
"I just want everybody to remember that he served his country and he was proud to be a soldier. He loved it," David Hensel said.
Shawn would have come home from Iraq next July had enemy crossfire not brought him home sooner.
I'll post information on the services and funeral as soon as available.