Staff Sergeant Charles Hein Jr. gave the ultimate sacrifice he died fighting for our country in the Vietnam War.
Today his family received the Honor and Remember flag given to families of fallen soldiers.
“Johnny” Hein was 22-years old to the day when we died in Vietnam.
“47 years later-still bothers you,” said Hein’s cousin Dennis Hein, “John would be humbled by this, he would almost be embarrassed, never did anything to get publicity out of it but he was a true patriot.”
A patriot the cousins describe as very athletic ran on a relay team and set records.
“He had a very good sense of humor kind of like dry sense of humor a little mischievous, loved the cars,” said Hein.
Johnny joined the Army and was in a special operations group. The family said Hein was killed in action trying to save his fellow soldiers.
“Johnny could have saved himself, he could have but he wanted to save his men,” said Hein.
Hein was buried in a family cemetery in Fremont County Iowa and his name is etched on a plaque on a memorial there
This ceremony was part of the Omaha West Rotary Club and this was the 140th flag the chapter has given out.
