The lead Humvee rocked violently. An IED ripped through the vehicle. Three of the four men inside were fatally wounded. Capt. Shane Mahaffee was riding in that vehicle when it was hit. The driver sustained a devastating vascular injury to his leg. Shrapnel had penetrated into Shane’s left lung. Shane jumped out of the wreckage and quickly took command of the situation. He directed the men in the remaining three vehicles to form a perimeter to prepare for any further attacks. Refusing medical care, he instructed his men to provide care to the others in his Humvee. After his soldiers had received the care they deserved, his men insisted that he too receive care.
A helicopter quickly arrived to take him to the Combat Support Hospital (CSH) in Baghdad. From there, he was taken to Landstuhl, Germany, where further surgery was required. His family was flown to be with him. Infection from the wounds ultimately took Shane’s life. To the very end, he firmly believed in what he was doing. Even when he was hospitalized he said the mission was not yet accomplished. He instructed a friend of his to go back and tell his men that they needed to complete the mission.
His family was with him when he died. It was the day after Mother’s Day, and his wife and mother were by his side. Three other soldiers died in the same IED attack. All four men are among the many heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Dear Lord, don’t let us lose our way, neglect the truth you’ve given us, or fritter away the life we enjoy. Keep us faithful until the end of our days here on earth. How we look forward to eternity with you in heaven.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7–8)