May 18, 2013
LENOIR CITY, Tenn. (WVLT) -- U. S. Army Specialist Nathan Lillard's flag draped coffin arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Deleware late Tuesday. Fellow soldiers took his remains to an area where his mother waited.
"She went to get the body to bring it back home," said his aunt, Faye Hawkins.
Lillard graduated in 2003 from Lenoir City High School. A former teacher shared fond memories of the kid he called a gentle giant.
"Nathan was an excellent student. Never a disciplinary problem," said his former teacher, David Whidby.
Lillard's aunt told Volunteer TV by phone the entire family is heartbroken over his death, which comes on the heels of another family tragedy. "His daddy died not too long ago," said Hawkins.
Back at school, Lillard's teachers remember his lifelong goal was to join the military. "He had even expressed that he would like to make a military career," said Whidby.
Lillard is the second Lenoir City High graduate killed in Afghanistan since 2006. His death is a constant reminder of the sacrifices by our soldiers.
"When one of them gives the ultimate sacrifice you just run out of gratitude that you can express with words," said Whidby.
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A soldier from East Tennessee was killed in action supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, the Defense Dept. announced Wednesday.
Army Spc. Nathan E. Lillard, 26, died Sunday in the Kunar province when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
Also killed in the attack were Spc. Shane Hahmed, 31, of Chesterfield, Mich.; Spc. Scott T. Nagorskim 27, of Greenfield, Wis; Spc. Jesse A. Snow, 25, of Fairborn, Ohio; and Pfc. Christian M. Warriner, 19, of Mills River, N.C.
The soldiers were all members of 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
