GySgt. Shawn Lane, U.S.M.C (KIA)

Marine remembered as one who wanted to serve

Parents say Corning man killed in western Iraq had dreamed of military career since childhood

CORNING -- A 33-year-old Marine from upstate New York was killed by enemy fighters in Iraq on Wednesday, according to the Defense Department.

Gunnery Sgt. Shawn A. Lane of Corning died in Al Anbar province in western Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, in Camp Pendleton, Calif.

His mother, Coralee Lane told The Leader newspaper of Corning that Lane had begun wearing his father's Air Force hat as a child and had decided he wanted to be a soldier by the time he was 8.

He played high school football and baseball. His father, John Lane, said Shawn Lane studied electronics at BOCES, where he received top honors. Before graduating in June 1989, he looked into branches of service, and the Marines were the quickest to return his calls.

He left in October 1989 for basic training at Paris Island, S.C. A year later, he began radio communications school at Twentynine Palms, Calif. He moved to Camp Pendleton, then shipped out to Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm in 1991. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, from 1992-93.

His father said the young Marine excelled at the Marine Security Guard school, a training ground for FBI and CIA workers, graduating with a score of 92.3.

In 1993, Lane shook hands with President Bush while guarding the American Consulate in Hong Kong in 1993. He was honored for guarding the American Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. He served in Bahrain for four months in 2002.

He spent 15 months in Iraq, beginning in February 2003. He went back Feb. 17, 2004.

Lane's father recalls the Marine's mother saying: "I don't think he's coming back."

Coralee Lane said her son had told her not to worry.

She remembers him saying: "It's what I've trained to do. And if I don't come back, I'll know I did my duty."

A U.S. flag and a Marine Corps flag hang at half-staff in front of the family home. A black bow hangs on the front door.

"They lost a good citizen and a good Marine. And we lost our baby," his mother said.

Shawn Lane had 15 years of service and was five years shy of retirement. He leaves behind his wife of six years, Jennifer, a 4-year-old son, Jonathan, his parents, his older sisters, Tina Sherman, of Campbell, Steuben County, and Darby Strumpeler of Nebraska.

Coralee and John Lane will fly to California for a military service and cremation Aug. 4. A public memorial service for Shawn Lane will be held later this month in East Corning.