On Monday, June 16, a soldier, Pvt Shawn Pahnke, who was raised in our town was killed by a sniper in Iraq. Today is the wake and tomorrow the funeral. Though I did not know the family, this is a small town(3500) and most in the town did. I expect the funeral procession will be quite long tomorrow. He had moved to Indiana and leaves a wife and 3 month old son who he never held, but his parents still live here and his father is the village administrator. The tragic part is he was usually in a tank and therefor had a flak jacket that protected against shrapnel but not bullets. He was on patrol in a humvee when he was shot. I believe the army is now changing all soldiers to the more protective flak jacket. Prayers for his family please.
