Alice Baratone, Marine Mom and Military Poet, sent this poem to Shawn's parents.
;)
LCpl Shawn P. Hefner
In 1986, December 4th had come
This would be the day I’d have my newborn son
I knew that he was special; a gift of joy to see
A son to fill my life with love and purity
I gazed at your face and knew my wish came true
My baby Shawn was here; a life that was so new
You had an older brother; Brandon was his name
He gave you all his love; a love that was so great
Your zest for life brought tears and laughter to us all
Beginning with the time that you began to crawl
Lathrop, Missouri; was where we lived back then
You were just in diapers, but fishing was your friend
You’d grab the fishing pole, and wandered towards the gates
All the bells would ring as you tried your great escape
The bells were on the gates to keep you home and safe
But you were very smart and learned how to get away
You wanted to go fishing and loved to be outdoors
Fish would be awaiting; and the catch would soon be yours
I bought a child’s leash to keep you safe at home
Now you’d be just fine if you felt the need to roam
While living in the country, a baby sister came
You were a big brother; your life was not the same
Now you would be three; siblings oh so tight
You grew up together from morning til the night
You three played together and went out in the field
You found the fireflies and what they soon would yield
You squished each firefly until you had their juice
You couldn’t wait to glow; you wouldn’t let them loose
You smeared each other’s faces; oh the fun you had
You glowed like fireflies just as you had planned
We lived in the country until you were age three
You felt the adventure of what that life would be
Our family soon would move to the town of Hamilton
Still living in Missouri we soon would settle in
The Swan’s man came to town with ice cream in the truck
Your dad loved ice cream too, so you would be in luck
Cris Clampit was the Swan’s man; he came to know you well
He became a friend that you thought was pretty swell
He’d sit upon our couch before his day would end
Then he’d fall asleep, but it was just pretend
Your dad gave the look; you both went for the spoon
A great big wooden spoon that now you two would use
Creeping towards the truck to sneak the yummy treat
Thinking would we make it; how much could we eat?
Cris never was asleep for it was just pretend
You laughed so loud each time at the very end
You had a love for ice cream and had a favorite kind
Mint chocolate chip for you; its what you had in mind
I told you it had spinach and you thought it to be true
You called it spinach ice cream, and that was fine with you
You were now sure growing and time was flying by
I saw you as you grew; this little boy of mine
We moved to Hico, Texas, where you started school
This little boy of mine would learn the Golden Rules
You would make new friends and learn so many things
You had a zest for life and all that it would bring
You talked of the Marines when you were just age five
You always had this thought down deep within your mind
You mimicked a Marine, and said, “it’s what I want”
You even had your room in jungle camouflage
You wore camouflaged clothes and had a survival book
Although you couldn’t read, you certainly did look
Kindergarten and second grade, a teacher came to mind
Mrs. Uptergrove kept everyone in line
She was a great teacher who really left her mark
You thought she was cool, and very, very smart
During fifth and sixth grades you had found your faith
It was at Discovery Camp that you now found your way
You found yourself with God and peace within your mind
You gave me honesty and showed you could be kind
You had special moments, treasured in your past
One was with your sister; one that will always last
During nighttime hours, you both laid by the pool
Gazing at the stars as they gazed back at you
You loved your sister Meagan, but what she didn’t know
Was gazing at the stars was your link into her soul
Then you had some buddies that drove you all around
I worried when you left to go out on the town
Nick and Norus McNalley; two of your best friends
Norus being older, but it didn’t matter then
Together all the time, you had so much fun
Playing in the house or out to get some sun
The boys’ mother, Lynn, was like your second mom
A mom who loved you so, whom you depended on
You really liked adventure with another friend name Stan
Stan Bundy was like you, so together you both ran
You’d scope out an area and set the trap just so
Trying to trap animals as you both were on the go
You spent many summers with Stan and his family
You’d go to Devil’s River with adventures yet to see
You came home with stories of the dangers at your feet
Living through those dangers you thought were pretty neat
Robbie was another friend who had you in his class
Whether in or out of school you two would have a blast
You went behind the house and climbed the mountain trail
You mastered the steep climb never being frail
A native medicine wheel was at the base of the hill
You looked over the valley so peaceful and so still
The name of Hico, Texas, Small Town USA
Home of Billy the Kid, you would hear them say
Billy was adventurous who somehow became lost
You were that way too, but never at a cost
There was a girl in Junior High that your eyes would see
You dated for awhile; her name was Emily
When you were age fourteen the terrorists attacked
You knew then you’d fight, it’s where your mind was at
During High School days, you broadened all your skills
You learned how to weld and also how to build
You had Mr. Post who taught you during shop
Another favorite teacher who you liked a lot
Yet another talent was food that you would grill
Smoked with certain wood was sure a tasty meal
You said, “a chef’s kitchen is what I needed most”
So we could the cook the meals that a chef would host
Your smile brought the warmth that we all felt inside
Your laughter was contagious for those nearby your side
You freely gave your heart and freely gave your hugs
Memories of my son that’s filled with so much love
You had silly times when I would shake my head
Like cliff diving naked with one of your best friends
Just like many families we also had rough times
Times that molded you into the man you’d find
You saw days of bad, and crossed some bridges too
Then you crossed the bridge of the proud and of the few
You took all you learned, along with what you’d seen
You looked at me and said, “I want to be a Marine”
January 2008, you took your oath so true
You promised to protect, the red, the white, the blue
You and Brandon Blackmon saw the same Company
You two became brothers and trained proficiently
Boot Camp days were over; you now saw SOI
School of Infantry was the training in your sight
You and Brandon trained until graduation came
Then off to Camp Lejune, your sights were still the same
You were a proud Marine, one of the very best
The eagle, globe and anchor, pinned upon your chest
You became a man; you were now transformed
A Marine who stood so tall inside his uniform
You trained at SOI for deployment to Iraq
With your buddies near you gave all you had
April 2009 you were home on leave
I looked at my son and the man he came to be
We knew you’d be deployed, but now where would you go?
We thought at first Iraq, but this would not be so
Deployment orders changed to Afghanistan
The place of heavy war among the sun and sand
Deployment soon had come and you were on the plane
Your life as a Marine forever now had changed
A camping trip was planned before you had to leave
Time now with my son; my love for him to see
On this camping trip a buddy came along
A Texan and Marine, he surely did belong
I thought of you so much; the boy that I had raised
I thought about your smile and prayed you would be safe
I felt the fear inside that any parent feels
Feelings of the war and knowing this was real
I prayed to God so much to protect you out in war
Protect your mind and heart for all that was in store
I began a journal to mark your special path
A path of the reflection of places you were at
June 2009; it was Father’s Day
You were now deployed; you were on your way
You soared through the sky from Turkey out to Stan
You looked through window at where you were to land
You saw a foreign country with sand and intense sun
Deep inside your mind was, “get this battle won”
Care packages were sent; I knew that you would share
I packed them every Thursday; I packed them all with care
Some were for beach parties, some had ice cream treats
There was something different for everyone to eat
You and all your buddies nicknamed me “the moms”
With all the special packages, I could do no wrong
Then my son had told me that they were getting stacked
I told him to share more of the things that I did pack
You received your mail, but others received none
You sent me into action to start the mail run
You were with your brothers who held a special pact
A pact that brothers give to protect each other’s backs
Sent out on a mission; your orders very clear
They were carried out with your brothers always near
Cpl William Pullen; a friend right from the start
Another true Marine whose friendship would not part
Pullen was the driver with eight Marines on board
One of them was you; close quarters were in store
An IED went off and your vehicle was hit
Pullen couldn’t move; you knew you could not sit
He couldn’t move his legs and was blacking in and out
You came to his rescue; of this there was no doubt
The evacuation point was fifty feet away
You carried him to safety so he could live that day
You were a true hero, but it never crossed your mind
For you were a Marine, the best that one could find
Five and a half months past; the last package was received
You and your whole Unit would very soon now leave
November 2009, my telephone did ring
You were a LCpl.; promotion was the thing
You were so excited to receive the rank so new
Being a Marine was what you really knew
I looked towards Thanksgiving Day
Homecoming soon would come your way
You said you had a mission; one last to carry through
We talked about the holidays and what we planned for you
I started on a scrapbook and ordered the supplies
A Christmas gift for you I’d finish just in time
On November 13th, my world forever changed
Life as I had known would never be the same
A knock was at the door; could UPS be here?
Little did I know three soldiers would appear
My heart just seemed to crumble and I could feel the tears
How could this be real; how could I face these fears
The soldiers in their uniforms explained how you had died
They said you were a hero; a hero for all times
You were on a mission; just hours to complete
You walked around an M-Rap, and stepped on an IED
On that fateful day you entered Heaven’s gates
God reached out to you to lead you on your way
Forever a Marine you stood so proud and tall
Now you are in Heaven for others who will fall
For when our heroes fall they leave their families
Whose heavy hearts and souls are very much in need
God said, “come with me, for I have special plans
Plans for a special angel to spread across the land
You will have the rank along with angel wings
To carry out your mission and all that it will bring
I need a special angel whose heart and soul is pure
To travel to the families who miss their angels here
You will spread the word that God is by their side
That their heroes here are angels with such pride
They wear their uniforms with angels wings behind
They carry out their missions that God has set aside
Your mission is now clear, but there is one thing more
You will guide your family and those whom you adore
They will feel your presence, for you will warm their hearts
They’ll know that you’re an angel whose love will never part
;)