OWOSSO -- The Corunna community is mourning the loss of private first class Shane Cantu.
The Michigan native was assigned to the 173rd airborne brigade and was serving his first tour in Afghanistan.
Prior service paratrooper Ron Will Doesn’t know Cantu but considers him a fellow patriot and hero.
“And so it’s… He was a tough paratrooper, I am very emotional,” said Will.
The Patriot Guard has been there for the family escorting Cantu from Bishop Airport to home in Corunna.
"It's an honor and privilege having been a veteran myself with the Navy in Vietnam to be able to stand here and honor any of our fallen brothers," said guard member Eric Schuman.
Cantu was 20 at the time of his death and his remembered by his high school teachers for his work ethic and play on the football field.
"The marines like saying, once a marine always a marine, but I think its once military always military,” said Schuman.
Tomorrow’s funeral service will be held on Corunna High Schools Nick Annese Field. Where Cantu once played football and where the community has many fond memories of him.
