HICO, TX, USA U.S. Marines LCPL, D CO, 2D AAV BN, (RCT- 7, MEB-A), 2D MAR DIV, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC NAWA, AFGHANISTAN 11/13/2009
Lance Corporal Shawn P. Hefner was from Hico, Texas. One of three children born to Patrick and Robin Hefner, the family moved to Texas in 1991. Hico is a small town, and everyone knows everyone and everything they are doing.
Growing up Shawn was a rambunctious kid. School wasn’t that interesting to him, he preferred being outdoors, doing fearless things. Shawn’s father was a former Marine, and Shawn was much like his father.
One time Shawn decided to go naked cliff diving while his class was on a school trip. The episode earned him a suspension. Of course everyone in town heard about it too. His fearless attitude once caused him some pain. While trying to break a horse, he was thrown and suffered for several hours before letting his parents know he broke his arm.
Despite his toughness, Shawn was very close to his mother and took great pride in being her helper, even making sure he got the seat next to her whenever possible. Shawn graduated from Hico High School in 2006 and joined the Marine Corps in January 2008. When he came home for a visit a few months later, his former school Superintendent met up with Shawn. The two had been at odds in the past. But Shawn walked right up to the man and shook his hand. He had grown up and the man remarked that he realized Shawn was going to be OK.
In June of 2009 he deployed to Afghanistan, assigned to 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, from Camp Lejeune, N.C. The next month he was in a vehicle that was hit by a bomb. Shawn made it out and then found one of his friends was still inside the vehicle. Shawn went and got him and carried him fifty feet to safety and help. This was sure to end up in the scrapbook/journal his mother started to document his deployment so Shawn could have it when he returned.
He was expected to come home for Thanksgiving on a leave. On November 1, 2009, he was promoted to the rank of lance corporal and on November 13 he was killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
His parents; a brother; a sister; and many other relatives survive him. His final resting place is Hico Cemetery in Hico, Texas.
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