Family of wounded soldier gives van away after his death to another soldier

Family of soldier who lost legs in Afghanistan, then died at home, pays kindness forward for his birthday
New Jersey.com
By Louis C. Hochman/NJ.com
October 09, 2013

Happy birthday, Derek.

About a year ago, wounded soldier Derek McConnell was given a van to help him regain independence, even without the use of his legs. McConnell died earlier this year, but his family celebrated his 24th birthday by re-gifting the van to another wounder warrior, Sam Shockley.

Derek McConnell of Parsippany turned 24 Tuesday. But the U.S. Army sergeant, who lost both of his legs in Afghanistan after an 2011 IED injury, wasn't there to see a gift given in his honor — to see the kindness once shown to him paid forward.

McConnell died at in his bed at Walter Reed National Military Medical in March of this year — leaving his family on a quest to find out why after inconclusive medical reports. But his family carried on in his spirit Tuesday, helping another wounded warrior.

"It just felt right to do," said Derek McConnell's mother, Siobhan Fuller-McConnell.

Fuller-McConnell was joined by her son's fiancée, Krystina Dressler, and by a service puppy named in her son's memory as they celebrated his life at Walter Reed and gifted a handicapped-accessible van once given to Derek to Army Staff Sgt. Sam Shockley of Ohio.

Shockley never knew Derek McConnell — he was injured in Afghanistan after stepping on a pressure plate and setting off a blast the day before McConnell died.
read more here