Published: November 05, 2009 12:29 am      

Welcoming home a hero

GREENVILLE — A hero returned to Hunt County Wednesday, to be greeted by hundreds of firefighters, law enforcement officers and military personnel.

The remains of United States Army Staff Sgt. Shawn Henry McNabb, 24, of Poetry in far south Hunt County, who was killed last month in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, arrived shortly before noon at Majors Field Municipal Airport in Greenville.

Three engines from the Greenville Fire-Rescue Department were used to raise a giant United States flag above the taxiway, while engines from a half-dozen North Texas fire departments sprayed a tribute over the aircraft carrying the casket. In all, more than a dozen fire departments and law enforcement agencies participated in the ceremony, alongside several military honor guards.

Stationed at Hunter Army Air Field in Savannah, Ga., McNabb was a soldier in the 160th Special Operations Air Regiment (SOAR) serving in the Third Battalion as an Airborne Combat Flight Medic. He received several awards during his four tours of duty, including the Bronze Star, the Air Medal x 1OLC and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor posthumously.

McNabb was among 14 Americans killed in helicopter crashes Oct. 26. McNabb joined the Army after graduating from Terrell High School in 2003 and was credited for saving the lives of two other men while serving in Afghanistan.

“That is his legacy to us,” his mother, Ann McNabb said. “We are so proud. We just couldn’t be prouder.”

A funeral service with full military honors is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Terrell with interment to follow at D/FW National Cemetery in Dallas. The family will receive friends from 4 until 9 p.m. today at Anderson Clayton Brothers Funeral Home in Terrell.

McNabb’s father David is a recently retired member of the Greenville Fire Department and said his son’s fellow soldiers have been willing to move mountains to support the family.

“They have been impeccable,” he said. “They have taken excellent care of us.”

He also wished to thank his former colleagues in Greenville and all of those who had taken time to offer their assistance, aid and comfort.

David McNabb said Shawn loved both the Army and his country.

“We know our son was a very patriotic young man,” McNabb said, recalling an incident at a store during a leave, when Shawn noticed a National Guard recruit who was wearing his uniform incorrectly.

“He told him to be proud and to respect the uniform that he wore,” McNabb said.

Ann McNabb said her son was a just one example of the stature of an American soldier.

“They serve so selflessly every day,” she said.

McNabb also leaves behind a sister Heather and his fiancée Sarah Kirk.

A motorcade left the terminal building at the airport and proceeded along Farm-To-Market Road 1570/Jack Finney Boulevard and then turned south on State Highway 34 into Terrell.