Sgt. Christopher Heflin, U.S.M.C. (KIA)

Marine 'perfect fit' for military
FRIENDS RECALL FALLEN SERVICEMAN'S LIFE, DEDICATION

A Kentucky Marine killed in Iraq was remembered yesterday in his hometown of Paducah as a tough competitor on the football field and as a "perfect fit" for military life.

Sgt. Christopher T. Heflin, 26, died in action Tuesday in the al-Anbar province, the Department of Defense said. The province, which stretches west from Baghdad to the Syrian border and includes Fallujah, has been a flashpoint in fighting between U.S. forces and Iraqi insurgents.

Heflin, who was not married and had no children, died the same day another Kentucky Marine, Lance Cpl. Sean Langley, was buried in Lexington. Langley, 20, died Nov. 7, also during action in the al-Anbar province.

Heflin was the 16th service member to die in Iraq with a Kentucky city listed as a hometown of record by the military.

Heflin graduated in 1997 from Reidland High School, where he was the starting center on the football team.

"You couldn't ask for a more coachable young man; very intense on the football field and very serious about his job," said Jeff Sturm, the current head coach at Reidland and an assistant when Heflin played.

At 5-foot-10 and about 190 pounds, Heflin showed his tenacity as the smallest starter on the offensive line.

"He worked as hard or harder than anybody," Sturm said yesterday.

Heflin was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.

"I think the Marines were a perfect fit for him," Sturm said. "He was so proud to be a Marine."

The Rev. Larry Davidson, who baptized Heflin in 1992 at Mt. Zion Church in West Paducah, said he was a "solid kid" who "enjoyed life." Heflin enjoyed riding a four-wheeler, which he called his "country Cadillac," Davidson said.

"He just had a sweet spirit about him," Davidson said.

Heflin's family said that when the Marines tried to put him in an office job, Heflin sought reassignment, the pastor said.

"He told them, 'that's not what I signed up for.' He wanted to be out there where the action was," Davidson said. "He wanted to serve his country."

Heflin always kept a positive attitude when discussing his military career with his family. That's how they could sense something was wrong in the last e-mail he sent from Iraq.

"He seemed like he was down," said Heflin's aunt, Cindy Wray of Kevil. "He said, 'Just remember no news is good news,' and he told us to be strong and he would see us soon. We just didn't think it would be this way."