Illness claims Coweta soldier who was eager to serve

Illness claims Coweta soldier who was eager to serve
Tulsa World - Tulsa,OK,USA
By MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer
Published: 12/23/2008 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 12/23/2008 3:10 AM

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 noncombat 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 Hamburg, 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.
click link above for more

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