Coweta Soldier’s Final Trip Home

By Dan Bewley, for NEWS 9

TULSA, OK -- A hometown hero is back in Oklahoma.

The body of U.S. Army Private Coleman Hinkefent was flown to Tulsa Saturday afternoon.

PFC Hinkefent died in Germany on December 20th after a courageous battle with leukemia.

Related story: 12/22/2008  Blog: Coweta Soldier Dies In Germany 

Saturday afternoon, the airplane carrying the 19-year old's body was saluted by Tulsa International Airport firefighters.

Full military honors then greeted the Coweta soldier at a private hangar. A procession led by the Patriot Guard Riders then escorted the family to a Broken Arrow funeral home.

PFC Hinkefent is being remembered as a man who loved serving his country.

Those who helped with Saturday's tribute say he deserves a hero's welcome.

"They just deserve people to come out and pay our respects. Anytime you see us we're here at the invitation of the family," said Patriot Guard Rider Mike Kittrell.

Funeral services for PFC Hinkefent will be held December 30 at 11 a.m.at The Assembly in Broken Arrow at 101st Street South and 129th Street East Avenue.