Dean Shaffer

Sgt. Dean R. Shaffer, age 23, of Pekin, Illinois, died on April 19, 2012, in southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 

He was a crew chief with the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment.

He and three other soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed in bad weather while flying to the scene of a suicide bombing. 

Dean was a graduate of Pekin Community High School.

Emil Kapaun, on your way to
Sainthood, pray for Dean

Friends stated that Dean always had a smile on his face and was a happy person. He was a very open and loving man and would do anything for anybody if they needed him to. 

It was also stated that he always wanted to be a part of the Military. He had deployed previously to Iraq. He had been in Afghanistan since January of 2012, on his second tour of duty there.

When his deployment was over, he had plans of becoming an electrician. 

Dean is survived by many loving friends and relatives including his mother. 

Let us pray that Dean Shaffer is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.