Coweta GI Coleman Hinkefent’s foe attacked from within

BY BRYAN DEAN
Published: December 23, 2008

Pfc. Coleman Hinkefent

Coleman Hinkefent’s hospital bed was 5,000 miles away, but the prayers from Tulsa’s Heritage Bible Church were in his ear until his last moments.

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AT A GLANCE

From the blog

Eric Hinkefent wrote on the blog:

A little over a year ago a 17-year-old boy sat across from me after saying goodbye to a friend, PFC Cody Carver, and said "Dad, he did something,” and asked if I would go with him to the recruiter the next day. Some might say that the Army gave me back a man — but I dare say I was looking at one that day. Coleman enlisted, turned down all of his "bonus” money, in exchange for a front row seat in a faraway place as an infantryman. Along the way, no amount of boot camp or hardship could restrain that quality that attracted so many to Coleman since he was an infant – pure, unadulterated joy.

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Hinkefent, a 19-year-old Army private first class from Coweta, died Saturday at an Army hospital in Homburg, Germany, after a short battle with acute leukemia led to liver failure.

Hinkefent was deployed to Iraq with the 1st Armored Division when he became sick in early December. On Dec. 10, he was flown to Germany, where he was diagnosed with a fast-acting leukemia.

As family members flew to Germany to be by his side, they kept in touch with their church family via a blog called Rooting for Coleman. Win Noren, a church member and family friend from Broken Arrow, communicated with the Hinkefents via phone and e-mail and updated the blog regularly.

Noren said Coleman Hinkefent’s parents, Eric and Belinda Hinkefent, sent updates about their son’s condition often, sometimes several times each day. Family and friends then left comments on the blog, with many writing short prayers.

"In some of Eric’s comments he sent me, he talked about reading those prayers to Coleman,” Noren said. "I think it was a very powerful way to be involved.”

Eric Hinkefent, writing on the blog the day his son died, said his son had no regrets and was open with those he loved.

"Coleman has forced a multitude to re-evaluate their relationships — with their family, their friends, and with God,” Eric Hinkefent wrote. "But that was Coleman — he had a joy that attracted and changed and challenged people wherever he went. His suffering has done the same.

"In the end, few men do anything that really matters — and fewer still finish well. I know a man who managed both.”

Randy Crook, pastor of Heritage Bible Church, said the Hinkefents were founding members of the church, which was formed in 2001 by several families. Many in the church were praying for Coleman Hinkefent as he deployed to Iraq. They had no idea his biggest enemy would attack inside his own body.

"Probably half the people that are at the church have known the Hinkefents since Coleman was born,” Crook said.

"You just don’t think about a 19-year-old having liver failure.”

Noren said those who knew Coleman Hinkefent are hurting but are consoled by knowing he was a devoted Christian.

"I think the hardest part was how quickly it all happened,” Noren said. "This was not the kind of bad news about Coleman we ever expected to receive.”

The church held a prayer service for Coleman Hinkefent on Dec. 12 and dedicated Sunday services to him Dec. 14.

Crook said Eric and Belinda Hinkefent were to fly home Monday night. Services have not been set.