Lance Corporal Shane Robert Martin born on September 9th, 1986 died serving his country July 29th, 2010. Monday morning friends, family, and citizens wishing to pay their respects gathered at Prince of Peace Catholic Church.
Lance Corporal Shane Robert Martin was killed during combat operations on July 29, 2010 while he was conducting a mounted patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Shane joined the Marine Corps in 2007 and was in the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion based in Camp Pendleton. He had previously deployed to Iraq.
His military awards and decorations include the Purple Hearty Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Medal.
Shane is survived by his Klien Collins High School Sweetheart, wife and best friend, Lauren, who was the love of his life and whom he married July 4th, 2008, before he deployed to Iraq. He is also survived by his mother and father Debora and Kevin Wallace., his brother Kyle and his loved little sister Diane, his Grandmother Pammy, and a loving close extended family of Uncles, Aunts, Cousins he grew up with, In Laws, Out Laws and close friends and brother Marines, all of whom he also claimed as family.
Shane was born in Durban, South Africa September 9, 1986 and lived his early years in Kenya South Africa before moving to a ranch in Burton, Texas, with an initial stop in Disneyland, when he was 12. As the oldest Grandson, and especially close to his mentor and adored Grandfather Bobby, who predeceased him, he had a childhood filled with family, sports, outdoors, close to cousins, especially his shadow Steven, his many friends, annual family vacations, dogs and horses and any strays, both humans and animals, he could find.
When he was 16 Shane moved with his family to Spring, Texas and graduated from Klien Collins High School where he met his wife Lauren as a Junior and where he was a member of the ROTC. He briefly attended the Houston Art Institute before he answered his true calling and, knowing the risks involved, volunteered and joined the Marine Corps. Shane came from a long line of service and with a fundamental understanding of the value of freedom, he died a proud US Citizen. He received his Citizenship while he was deployed in Iraq and would have had it no other way.
He will be remembered for his huge smile, his love of Africa and his adopted homeland, America, his big bear hugs, his loyalty and his adamant belief in the good of all people around him. He never met a stranger and was always ready to laugh. He recognized right and wrong and was never critical. He was tolerant and kind and while physically very strong, had a soft heart and could shed a tear. He loved his wife and extended family unconditionally and embraced all that life offered. His was a life cut short, but he was so proud to be a Marine.
Shane will be missed by all who knew him. We will honor him and his sacrifice and will never forget. We feel his presence now and know that he is watching over us all and smiling and still reaching out to his beloved family and his special wife Lauren. He will always be remembered as a man who gave so much as a husband, grandson, son, cousin, much loved family member and best friend and will be honored by his brothers in arms. He enriched the life of all of us who were blessed to know him and we are grateful to have shared his life. Go in peace Shane, you are and always be our hero.
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