Bringing Home A Hero - A Soldiers' Tribute

Marine Lance Cpl. Shawn P. Hefner
Operation Enduring Freedom
KIA November 13, 2009


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 just weeks before his 23rd birthday, while supporting combat operations in Nawa, Afghanistan.

Hefner was fearless, comrades and friends said. A choked-up soldier said Hefner carried him to safety after an explosive hit their truck.

Patrick Hefner said his son loved to go camping and fishing. “If it could be done outdoors, that’s where he wanted to be,” he said.

He knew how to keep a promise to his mother, Robin, who’d asked him to take photos overseas. “They were carting him off in helicopters, and he was lying on his back taking pictures of his buddies up in front of him” after an attack last year, his father said. Other survivors include a sister and brother.



On November 19, 2009, in the small town of Hico Texas, population 1300, it is as though the entire community stopped life for just a while to come out and pay tribute to this brave hero.

Jerry Castillo of USFallen.org was the only one covering this hero's welcome home.

Click HERE to thank USFallen.org.

Promote honor, respect and dignity for our fallen warriors and notable veterans.
Click HERE to support their mission to promote honor, respect and dignity for our fallen warriors and veterans.

We are partnering with USFallen to further our mission to honor our fallen and their families. We will never forget your great sacrifices.

"Kindness Amidst the Sorrow"

by Rhonda McGuire


It is true that in some small way, we are all knit together.

We are humans. We walk the same planet. We experience joys. We experience sorrows. We breath the same air. Sometimes—that human experience can simply take our breath away. When we're caught completely off-guard by the beauty of genuine human kindness. It is a rare blessing that God allows us to be in the center of such encounters, and indeed He granted God Bless The Troops a glimpse into His handiwork through a stranger's touch, even if under sorrowful circumstances.


This entry is related to the previous blog Memorial for Army Capt. Kyle Comfort.  Please read on...

This is a letter TO the family of Captain Comfort, FROM the Comfort Family of Illinois.

Thank you Julie and family for reaching out...

"Born To Be A Soldier"

by Rhonda McGuire

“It was in his blood. He was born to be a soldier,” said Brooke Comfort, the wife of Army Captain Kyle Comfort. "He was a leader who died 'doing what he loved.' Kyle’s main purpose in life was to make a difference, and he really felt like we were making a difference over there.”

These are the words of a brave young wife and the mother of their 6-month-old daughter, Kinleigh.

As we've honored our heroes, we run across story after story of those who have fought and died on the battlefield for their country.Who have donned a uniform and taken a vow to protect this country from its enemies. It is truly heart-wrenching...

Recently, Mark Titre, the Founder of God Bless The Troops and I had an opportunity to go on the radio* and talk about what our organization is doing for the troops and their family.  To put it simply: to honor brave fallen soldiers like Kyle Comfort, and show their family that we remember them. That he, and his family will not be forgotten.

Sadly, as shown on  The Faces of the Fallen page of our website, in the month of May we have already lost fifteen young men.  More men than days in the month...

They are sons, husbands, fathers, brothers, uncles. They each have their own brave story. They each have loved ones who are now walking the path of sorrow as they seek to come to grips with their loss.  We personally wish to acknowledge  them.


By the generous support of an unexpected supporter**, we were able to honor Army Captain Kyle Comfort's family with a framed print... This is our second fully-funded nationally-shipped framed print to date.

It is our prayer and passion to reach out to every family.

If you would like to send a framed print to a family, please visit our website for more information on how you can be a part of honoring our brave and fallen heroes.


pictured, Army Captain Kyle Comfort of Jacksonville, Alabama, KIA 5/8/2010

*To watch/listen to our radio spot, click the Live Studio Feed button dated 4/25/2010 on am560 WIND Chicago Talk Radio on our Host Geoff Pinkus' website. Special thanks to him for sharing our story.


**Please read the next blog post to discover the unexpected supporter for Captain Comfort's frame.