Tulsa World: Liver failure claims Coweta soldier

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Liver failure claims Coweta soldier

Coleman Wayne Hinkefent

By MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer
Published: 12/22/2008 11:53 AM
Last Modified: 12/22/2008 5:59 PM

Oklahoma heroes: View a memorial to the Oklahomans who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A young soldier from Coweta who wanted to serve the country “so my family can sleep in peace at night” died Saturday in Germany from a non-combat illness, officials said.

The Department of Defense on Monday identified the soldier as Army Pfc. Coleman Wayne Hinkefent, 19.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division at Baumholder, Germany.

Hinkefent had been serving in Iraq until recently, when he became ill and was flown to Homburg, Germany, for treatment, according to his family.

His death was brought on by liver failure, and he was also undergoing treatment for acute leukemia, the family said.

Hinkefent’s parents, Eric and Belinda Hinkefent, flew to Germany to be at his bedside and updated friends daily on their son’s condition through the Facebook Web site.

The young soldier’s father was with him when he died.

In the Facebook posting, Eric Hinkefent said his wife had stayed with her son during the last few hours of his life.

“I went in about 6:20 a.m., told him we love him and how proud we are of him,” the father wrote.

“While I was standing there, stroking his hair, his heart stopped,” Eric Hinkefent said. He wrote that doctors tried unsuccessfully

to revive his son.

The father recalled the day more than a year ago when his son, 17 at the time, decided to join the Army.

Coleman Hinkefent had just said goodbye to an Army friend of his when he turned to his father and said, “Dad, he did something,” and then asked his father to go with him the next day to a recruiter.

“Some might say that the Army gave me back a man,” his father wrote, “but I dare say I was looking at one that day.”

Eric Hinkefent said his son enlisted, and turned down all of his bonus money in exchange for a “front-row seat in a faraway place as an infantryman.”

Along the way, the father said, “no amount of boot camp or hardship could restrain that quality that attracted so many to Coleman since he was an infant — pure, unadulterated joy.”

The father said his son forced “a multitude to re-evaluate their relationships — with their family, their friends and with God.”

“But that was Coleman. He had a joy that attracted and changed and challenged people wherever he went. His suffering has done the same.

“In the end, few men do anything that really matters — and fewer still finish well.

“I know a man who managed both,” Eric Hinkefent wrote of his son.

On his own MySpace Web site posting, Coleman Hinkefent was quite to the point about his service to his country.

He wrote that he was just “doin’ my job, so my family can sleep in peace at night.”

Ten days ago, dozens of his friends and family friends attended prayer services for Coleman Hinkefent at Tulsa’s Heritage Bible Church, where the Hinkefent family worships.

Church members were also provided daily updates on the young soldier’s condition.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother, Emil; and two sisters, Erica and Hailey.

Funeral services are pending. By MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment R U 4 Real?, GREATER TULSA AREA (12/22/2008 12:14:04 PM) May you rest in peace. My heart goes out to the family of this fine young man. Please contact the patriot guard riders for a motorcycle escort.
	Report Comment Mistic_wolf, tahlequah (12/22/2008 12:15:06 PM) My heart and prays go out to this young man's family as will to all the troops and there family's. I hope they will all be brought home soon!
	Report Comment Sunshineinttown, (12/22/2008 12:56:31 PM) 19 - so young-so sad Thank you for your service to this country and may you rest in peace brave man
	Report Comment Rex49, Broken Arrow (12/22/2008 5:21:42 PM) So young. It's so sad. I see all these young "gang bangers" walking the streets with their pants around their knees and they could care less about serving their country, and this fine young soldier dies thousands of miles from home and family serving his country. God Bless him and his family. A job well done soldier.
	Report Comment cupandsaucerguy, Oklahoma City (12/22/2008 8:44:49 PM) I just want to say to the Hinkefent family that we are able to say that we are FREE AMERICANS because of people like your son. May God bless your family in this time of sadness. May you find comfort, and love from your friends and family. And we say Rest In Peace to your Son.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, Austin, TX (12/22/2008 8:49:38 PM) Condolences to the family. God's Speed, brave soldier.
	Report Comment Popeye, T-Town (12/22/2008 8:58:45 PM) My sincere condolences to the family. My thanks to Eric for sharing his thoughts and feelings about his outstanding son. I am so sorry for your loss, but thank you for bringing such a wonderful person into the world and sharing him with us for too short a time.

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