Fallen Soldier Returns Home

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Earl R. Scott, III, has made his final homecoming.

Scott's casket arrived at NAS Jax about 5 p.m. Friday, on a private charter plane.

"We will deeply miss our son," said Earl Scott Jr., Scott's father holding back tears.

Scott, Jr. told First Coast News Reporter Monica Landeros that his son loved to fly.

"I took him for his first ride on an airplane and that's the last time I ever got to ride with him, and I knew then, he was going to be a pilot," said Scott, Jr.

The Scott family, along with friends, gathered on the tarmac as the flag draped casket was escorted into a hearse.

"It has hit us very hard," said Scott, Jr.

Scott's mother, Sandra, said the family felt love and support from complete strangers in the days following her son's death.

"I have had enormous outpouring from beyond Jacksonville, and every other place I can think of that is still is coming, and changing our lives even more. It is actually making us a lot stronger having all this support," said Sandra Scott.

Servicemen and military members lined the tarmac as the hearse pulled away.

"With this military town, we've lost one of our sons and everyone feels it here today. We love you all for that," Scott, Jr. said with a sigh.

Scott's father also said his son loved Jacksonville so much, he planned to return permanently after his career in the military ended.

According to the Department of Defense, Scott and another soldier, Matthew C. Heffelfinger, 29, of Kimberly, Idaho, died Nov. 8, in Tikrit, Iraq, of injuries sustained when their OH-58D "Kiowa" helicopter crashed.

Army Warrant Officer Earl R. Scott, III, 24, moved to Jacksonville when he was 1-year-old and was raised in Mandarin. He was recently stationed in Hawaii after training in Alabama. He attended Mandarin High School.

Funeral arrangements are set for Saturday, and the procession will begin at 12:30 p.m. at Hardage and Gidden Funeral Home. The procession will stop at NAS Jax at 2:30, then proceed to Oaklawn Cemetery, where they will hold a graveside service at 4:15 p.m.

In his memory, his family is also holding a drive to collect items to send to his unit in Iraq.

Scott's family and friends are asking that people bring one or more items from the following list to the funeral.  You can also drop off items at any Watson Realty location:

FOOD ITEMS

• Instant Coffee
• Powdered Gatorade
• Powdered Hot Chocolate
• Tea Bags
• Slim Jim
• Single Serving Bags of Chips
• Candy; not chocolate, it melts
• Prepackaged snacks
• Granola Bars
• Power Bars
• Gum
• Condiments (hot sauce, ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper, etc.)
• Canned Tuna
• Canned Chicken
• Oatmeal

PRACTICAL ITEMS

• Razors
• Shampoo, conditioner
• After shave lotion
• Soap or body wash
• Deodorant
• T-shirts
• Socks
• Underwear
• Eye Drops
• Lip Balm
• Sun Block
• Lotion
• Dental Floss
• Foot Powder
• Combs/ Brushes
• Liquid Hand Sanitizer
• Breath Mints

JUST FOR FUN

• Batteries (all types)
• Stamps
• Stationary, Envelopes
• Stress Ball
• Phone Cards
• Magazines (no nude ones please)
• Paperback books
• Squirt Guns
• Frisbees
• Small Flash Lights
• Journals
• Yo Yo's
• Puzzles
• Bug Off
• Mini Foam Footballs/ Basketballs

They are accepting cash to purchase additional items and to cover shipping. CLICK HERE to make a donation through PayPal.

The items will be sent in a care package in Scott's name and handed out to his fellow soldiers who served with him.

CLICK HERE to read more about Scott and his life here on the First Coast.

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