Soldier's death a painful blow for those left behind

Story by: John Lechliter, News-Leader
Published Sunday, May 21, 2006

The story was not supposed to end with Chuck Cox of Evangel University making a trip this weekend to attend a soldier's funeral in Illinois.

Army Capt. Shane R. M. Mahaffee was a "miracle soldier," his doctors had said, and he'd "turned the corner" on his way to recovering from a horrific explosion in Iraq. The Evangel graduate, 36, was leading a convoy of four armored vehicles on May 5 near Al Hillah, a city in central Iraq, when the blast from a roadside bomb tore apart his Humvee. Three soldiers riding with him died. A fourth soldier lost his arm. Mahaffee was evacuated from the scene gravely wounded but fighting for life.

Within hours, e-mails reporting that Mahaffee had been injured reached the Evangel campus. Faculty, administrators and students began praying for the soldier, who earned his pre-law degree there in 1991. Over the 10 days that followed, the Evangel campus received daily — sometimes hourly — updates on the condition of the injured soldier. Emotions ran from deep concern, to glowing optimism, to shock and sadness when Mahaffee's death was announced Monday. It wasn't the way his life was supposed to end.

A bright student

Mahaffee moved to Springfield in the late 1980s in part to be with his grandparents, who both worked at Evangel. Max Martin was a theology professor; his wife, Jean, was a secretary in the social services department. Bryan Sanders, professor of government and legal studies, came to know Mahaffee as a hard-working student who was from an intensely patriotic family.

"He was a member of the ROTC, and he was very patriotic," Sanders said. "He wanted to serve in the military."

Mahaffee graduated in 1991, completed his law degree and eventually settled near Waukegan, Ill., where he practiced law. Sanders said he stayed in touch with his former student, who, like him, specialized in real estate law.

"He took over his dad's practice," Sanders said. "He had been in the Army Reserves, but he'd been out for five years. But then he got activated."

The Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper, covered the young lawyer's preparations to depart for Iraq in January.

"I have absolutely no problem in serving the country," he told the Herald. "It is something I have always wanted to do."

He had only been in Iraq three weeks when he was wounded.

Many Evangel students have served their country in the military, said public relations director Paul Logsdon. But in the university's 50 years, there has been only one other alumnus who died in combat — in Vietnam.

Swings of emotion

Logsdon also knew Mahaffee, and he had been among the "Evangel family" that prayed for the soldier's recovery.At first, the prospects of Mahaffee's recovery seemed grim. But as the days went on, the soldier began to surprise the physicians who tended him. Hopes rose as family members reported on his progress by e-mail.

"One thing that we did learn is that the doctors are saying he did have fatal wounds and he is a miracle case to have survived what happened," wrote Mahaffee's sister-in-law. "All of his angels are at work!"

The miracle was not to be. Mahaffee had shrapnel in his lungs, which caused pneumonia and blood clots, Logsdon said. The soldier's condition started to worsen on May 11, and he died Monday.

The e-mail announcing Mahaffee's death was a shock. "When the e-mail came, a lot of us just sat in front of our computers and cried when we saw it," Logsdon said.

Mahaffee is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Adelia Rose, 5, and Ethan, 2. He will be buried with full military honors Monday. Cox, who is director of alumni relations for Evangel, will represent the university at the funeral. Cox, a former Marine pilot, became acquainted with the soldier after Mahaffee's graduation.

"We're all deeply saddened," he said. "This has been an up-and-down ride for the Evangel family. We grieve with his family."