COLUMBUS, Ind. (WTHR) - Tuesday will be the end of a long journey in the too-short life of Army Sgt. Jonathon Michael Hunter.
Hunter was killed in a suicide bombing attack in southern Afghanistan August 2, almost three weeks ago.
His family will receive his remains Tuesday at 10:00 am at Columbus airport.
"Hearing things about him, he didn't die in vain, he died honorably, basically, in my book. He's my hero," said his father Mark Hunter.
His hometown has reached out with flowers, condolences and even a scholarship in Hunter's memory at Columbus East High School, where he played football.
Hunter's father, was at Dover Air Base when his son's remains were returned to the US along with those of Spec. Christopher Harris, killed in the same attack.
Hunter's father attended Harris' funeral and met others from their unit.
"His bunkmate, who got him to the helicopter, I talked to him for quite a while. I talked to the others who were injured. I told them not to feel guilty. You guys were there it just happened to be his time," said Mark Hunter.
Mark Hunter did not plan to watch President Trump's Afghanistan speech Monday night.
"Well, I'm not really a political guy but some kind of closure. I mean we've been there for 17 years, whatever it's been. It just doesn't seem like it gets better. Stand back a little bit and they come back. I don't have an answer for that.
Saturday's funeral will end a long three-week wait for the family. He would like to see the military somehow speed up the process of getting remains home.
"Very draining," he called it. "I just want my baby home so we can put him to rest. And a lot of people can get closure. That's going to be my mission make sure this, maybe we can get this changed. So nobody else will have to go through this, this long."
The scholarship in Sgt. Hunter's name is set up through The Heritage Fond of Bartholomew County's Community Foundation.
To donate to the scholarship fund, visit this site and press the donate key.