Army Pfc. Shane M. Reifert

Died November 6, 2010 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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23, of Cottrellville, Mich.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Nov. 6 at Combat Outpost Able Main, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire.

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His mother’s ‘little thinker’

Times Herald (Port Huron, Mich.)

Gary Reifert said his 23-year-old nephew was a quiet man.

“His mom used to call him her little thinker,” he said.

The Defense Department says Pfc. Shane Reifert died Nov. 6 in Kunar province of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.

He was assigned to the Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), out of Fort Campbell, Ky.

Gary Reifert said his family has been left reeling from the loss of the young man who had been inspired to join the military by his grandfather’s service in World War II.

“[Being in the military] was everything to him,” he said.

He joined the Army in August 2009 and arrived at Fort Campbell in December 2009.

His awards and decorations include: National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.

Reifert is survived by this father, Kurt A. Reifert, and mother, Kathleen M. Reifert, both of Cottrellville Township.

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Community comes together to say goodbye

By Angela Mullins

Times Herald (Port Huron, Mich.)

MARINE CITY, Mich. — Hundreds of American flags snapped in the wind Nov. 17 as Army Pfc. Shane Reifert’s body was carried through the front doors of Holy Cross Catholic Church.

The nearly 1,000 people gathered outside were silent as men wearing military uniforms lifted Reifert’s casket into a hearse and a priest recited a muffled prayer.

Veterans and active military members saluted. Others ran their fingers or forearms across their faces wiping away tears. But, for the most part, people continued with what they had been doing for hours before and during Reifert’s funeral — standing reverently along South Water Street to honor a soldier many had never met.

Reifert, 23, of Cottrellville Township represents all men and women willing to die for their country, several said. He was killed Nov. 6 when his unit was attacked by insurgents in Afghanistan.

“If it wasn’t for the soldiers fighting for us ... we wouldn’t have freedom,” said Anna Slease, 18, of Marysville.

People carrying American flags large and small began filing through downtown Marine City hours before the funeral started. Many of those who didn’t bring flags from home picked one up as they neared Holy Cross.

Todd May was handing them out in front of his South Water Street business, The Sweet Tooth. He started with 100 flags at 8:30 a.m. About 25 were left an hour later.

“[I’m] here to give my support to the troops ...” May said. “We’re paying respect.”

By the time Reifert’s funeral started at 11 a.m., a human perimeter had formed around Holy Cross. The lineup started at Bridge Street and stretched along both sides of South Water Street for about three city blocks.

“My heart just explodes to see all these people and all this support,” said Barbara Shonk of East China Township, hugging two American flags against her chest. “When push comes to shove, these people will rally.”

Most important, some said, was that the rally was peaceful. Police reported no problems, and an area reserved for picketing was empty.

“This is just how people are, and how they should be,” Cindy Collins of Marine City said. “It says ‘We care [and] we support each other.’ ”

Information about memorial contributions can be found at myfallensoldier.blogspot.com.

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‘He always put others before himself’

The Associated Press

Through a blog started in memory of Shane M. Reifert, his older sister, Elizabeth, offers peeks into his life before the Army: his fear of confrontation as a youngster; the late nights of playing video games with people he’d never met in person; his dozen guitars, mostly electric; and the piles of CDs he owned.

He preferred the discs to MP3s, she wrote, and he insisted on listening to each one all the way through, no skipping allowed.

Reifert loved animals, especially the family dog, Lola, and had a dry sense of humor, his sister told the Times Herald of Port Huron, Mich.

The 23-year-old soldier from Cottrellville Township, outside Port Huron, died Nov. 6 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, after his unit was attacked with small arms fire. He was assigned to Fort Campbell, Ky., and was on his second deployment to Afghanistan.

The 2005 graduate of Marine City’s Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School had planned to become a firefighter when he left the military, his sister told the newspaper.

“He was very much a first responder,” she said. “He always put others before himself.”

Reifert also is survived by his parents, Kurt and Kitty.