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Massachusetts Fire Fighter Loses Son in Iraq
 July
2, 2008 – As the nation’s troops continue to be called to serve overseas, IAFF
members and those close to them are putting themselves in harms’ way every day.
In June, Taunton, MA Local 1391 fire fighter Keavin Duffy‘s son, Shane, was
killed in the line of duty in Iraq.
Shane Duffy, 22, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 87th
Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light
Infantry). Duffy was serving his second tour when his unit was attacked in
Sharqat by enemy forces using small arms weapons and hand grenades. He later
died of his injuries in Tikrit.
Keavin Duffy, a 20-year veteran fire fighter, was on duty when
he got the news about his son. “We were all devastated,” says Mark Baptiste,
president of Taunton Local 1391. “We all know the Duffy family very well. Many
of us had watched Shane grow up, even coaching him in sports.”
Local 1391 immediately rallied around the Duffy family and
assisted with the funeral service arrangements. Since the local was not
experienced in large-scale services, fire fighters reached out to IAFF 3rd
District Vice President Mike Mullane, who connected the local with Boston Local
718 Special Operations staff.
The Duffy family had only three requests: a horse-drawn hearse,
a processional around the city square to the cemetery and bagpipes. Local 1391
was able to comply with all three requests, bringing bagpipers in from three
area locals.
Joining fire fighters, family and friends at the service were
U.S. Senator John Kerry, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts
Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray and Taunton Mayor Charles Crowley.
The 22-year-old Duffy was remembered as someone who was athletic
and extremely devoted to his family. He had planned to become a fire fighter and
joining his father at the Taunton Fire Department when he returned from Iraq.
At the close of the services, Brigadier General Rhonda Cornum
presented Duffy’s family with his Bronze Star, Purple Heart and other service
medals for the war in Iraq.
Shane Duffy is survived by his wife, Jamie, infant daughter
MacKensie, father Keavin Sr., mother Frances, two sisters -- Kelsey and Shannon
-- and brother Keavin Jr.
Local 1391 has set up a fund to assist Shane Duffy’s family.
Donations can be made to:
Sergeant Shane Duffy Memorial Fund
c/o Taunton Federal Credit Union
14 Church Green
Taunton, MA 02780
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