Tulsa World: Honoring a soldier's life

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Honoring a soldier's life
Coweta 19-year-old who died of illness loved the Army

Soldiers salute the casket of Army Pfc. Coleman Wayne Hinkefent at his funeral service Tuesday in Broken Arrow. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World

By MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer
Published: 12/31/2008 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 12/31/2008 2:46 AM

BROKEN ARROW — A Coweta soldier who felt that the Army brought out the best in him was remembered Tuesday as a young man who loved his family and those around him.

Several hundred mourners packed The Assembly at Broken Arrow for a two-hour celebration of the life of Pfc. Coleman Wayne Hinkefent, 19, who died Dec. 20 in a Homburg, Germany, hospital.

He suffered liver failure, and was undergoing treatment for acute leukemia.

Two weeks before he fell ill, Hinkefent was serving in Iraq, having arrived there in July. He had enlisted in the Army in January.

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

Several family members and friends offered perspectives into his life, including his father, Eric Hinkefent, who was at his son's bedside when he died.

The father, sometimes choking with emotion, chronicled for mourners his son's early life, his years of schooling and his passion for hockey.

In later years, Eric Hinkefent said, his son's interests would turn to car racing, where he made a name for himself.

It was that place behind the wheel of a roaring machine that led to his son's being assigned to drive the Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle in Iraq, the father said.

Eric Hinkefent said his son loved the Army. He completed his basic training at Fort Benning, Ga.

Hinkefent shared with mourners a letter he received from his son just three days before he completed basic training.

In that letter, the young Hinkefent said, "I have changed for the better in many ways."

The soldier credited the Army with giving him the "will to do my best, no matter what the task."

Eric Hinkefent added that his son was a "burst of joy" with a "winsome spark."

Randy Mannschreck, a family friend, spoke of camping trips that he and his own son took with Coleman Hinkefent and how often he and Hinkefent would have heart-to-heart talks.

Dabbing his tear-filled eyes on occasion, Mannschreck said Hinkefent often talked about personal perseverance and courage.

"Coleman was joyous," and he displayed a fierce spirit that was infectious, Mannschreck said.

"Everyone liked him," he said.

Noting that his own son, Brig. Gen. Kendall Cox of the Army Corps of Engineers office in Dallas, served in Iraq, he said he was proud of his son's selfless service, "and I know all of you feel that way about Coleman."

Hinkefent's family was presented with a Bronze Star for his meritorious service in Iraq.

After the ceremony, a long procession of cars, led by a motorcycle escort of the Patriot Guard, journeyed to Floral Haven Memorial Gardens for Hinkefent's burial.

He was honored with a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps.

Manny Gamallo 581-8386
manny.gamallo@tulsaworld.com By MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Mistic_wolf, tahlequah (12/31/2008 7:37:45 AM) May he rest in peace. My heart goes out to his family. My prays go out to the troops still over there and there family.
	Report Comment Skeptic, Tulsa (12/31/2008 7:59:13 AM) ditto mistic_wolf
	Report Comment What in the World!, Tulsa, OK (12/31/2008 8:49:15 AM) God bless you solder. My sympathies to his family and friends. He sacrificed his life for freedom.
	Report Comment Billie08, (12/31/2008 9:08:19 AM) My prayers go out to the family. I know he will be missed so much. Even though he died of liver failure, he is still a hero to all of us. He was a brave young man who wanted to serve his country and I admire him for that. Be proud of pfc Coleman for I am. God Bless you all.

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