As a military family, My wife Kelly and I have learned that "arranged friendships" are often among the closest friendships. The spring after my family moved to Florida Kelly received a call from one of her closest friends, Christy. "Kelly, there's another Marine family moving to Florida and you HAVE to be friends with them! They have kids your age and they homeschool!" Not long after that the Campbell's moved in - on our street, no less - and we hit it off immediately.

The first things you noticed when you met Shawn were his kind eyes and big smile. It was instantly clear this guy loved to laugh! (What I didn't find out until later was how much he liked the cheesy humor of the SciFi network...) After praying with me for months about the decision whether or not to resign from the Marine Corps and join the Coast Guard, he and Kelli came to my "resignation party." While I have many memories of that night, Shawn's gift stands out above them all. He brought a giant orange tote full of "what you'll need in the Coast Guard." The necessities included things like a rubber duckie and kids inflatable arm floaties. He loved to laugh!

But Shawn wasn't all fun and games. He was serious about his discipleship. He and our mutual friend Mark spearheaded a Saturday morning accountability group. We would meet at Waffle House long before our kids were up. Shawn would always ask us to pray that the Lord would strengthen him as a husband and a father. When the other three of us got in our cars to head home, Shawn would go across the street to the Village Inn to disciple a group of young Marine flight students. These were the same Marines for whom he worked so tirelessly with the Tun Tavern Fellowship to purchase and prepare a local house which continues to serve as a place where Marine flight students can live together in Christian fellowship.

Shawn was a special man and great friend. Throughout my time grieving his loss in Hawaii and meeting friends from several different stages of his life, I was constantly reminded that my time with him was short but representative of the impact he has made on so many lives. He has left a legacy of Christian discipleship with an entire generation of young Marines, deep friendships in every place he lived and take one look at his kids and you see that he has left the four of them with those kind, laughing eyes.

Tristan, Kenna, Kate and Donovan - your father was a very special man. He served our nation with great honor and distinction. He led and mentored young Marines. He left this world doing what he loved but far more than the Marine Corps, or even flying, he loved being a father to each of you. He loved the Lord his God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength and I know he prayed that the four of you would always do the same.

Kelli - these are the thoughts I would have shared with you in Hawaii if I had been able to put them into words. I know how deeply Shawn loved you. I know he would love you even more for the strength and dignity you have shown the last three months. We grieve with you even as we trust alongside you in our resurrected Lord whom Shawn now knows more intimately than we can fathom.

We will always love you, Campbell family.

Lars (for Kelly, Bengt, Hannah, Annika and Linnea)

During a visit with Shawn and Kelli years ago an image of Shawn was etched into my mind. The image since has grown to mean so much more these last couple of months. I was still in college, not sure what year exactly but I got to visit Shawn and Kelli at their place some several states away along with my parents. In this image I'm looking just over Shawn's right shoulder. Shawn's kneeling and leaning over talking to a tiny 2 year old Tristan who’s looking down and to the left towards his dad. T had just gotten in trouble and as you'd expect to see, a parent close by to scold and redirect. It's a scene replayed time and time again in any household. However this was different. There was something much different about the way Shawn spoke and moved. I've seen compassionate, patient, loving father's before but I remember freezing where I was in that moment watching Shawn so carefully and gently discussing with T what is and isn't right. Shawn would go on for at least 5 minutes with little impressionable T soaking it all up. That image followed me from that day. There would be many other opportunities that I got to witness how Shawn would quietly and calmly pull his kids aside to discuss their actions and attitudes for what I always thought was hours. Always deeply impressed at Shawn’s ability to stay calm no matter the situation. Once married I spoke about Shawn’s gentle nature to my wife. Something I wanted to emulate. When we’d get the chance to be with them or they with us I’d always mention how I looked forward to seeing again first-hand how Shawn loved his family. Such a good husband to my sister. Such a loving dad to my nieces and nephews. Prior to that Friday morning in January the image of Shawn and Tristan would reappear at the times that I’d be briskly walking up the stairs to my son's room ready to deliver a good hard speech. In that moment I’d try to remind myself to be more like Shawn. Some days that image popped up into my mind more often than others… I always seemed to fail and never measure up to what Shawn did so naturally. I’m not sure I’ve told anyone about this image of Shawn but my wife. There was never any need. Maybe it even sounded weird when I’d try to put it into words. It was only after that morning and having to wait through those hard, painful days after that I questioned why God would allow that image of Shawn and T to follow me like it had. I’ll be forever thankful that He stopped me in that moment years ago to impress upon me that image. I know his kids will remember their gentle and loving Father but I do want them to also know that I too will remember their gentle and loving father as just that. 

Our family of 6 was lucky enough to spend almost every waking minute with Shawn and his family in Hawaii for two weeks, with us departing back to the mainland Tuesday before his death.  I'm thankful for so many things - namely the kindness and providence of God to allow us to spend such rich time with Shawn, Kelli, and the kiddos just days before He called him home that dark Thursday night.  

I think fondly of the 5K runs that Shawn and I took around the neighborhood there in Kailua.  And him guilting me into doing "ammo can lifts" in the backyard (I hid my shoulder pain the next few days).  I entered the lottery for the 41st running of the Marine Corps Marathon later this year, and I find out tomorrow if I can run it in Washington DC.  That just seemed like the right thing to do.

I'm thankful we took the opportunity to golf at the beautiful Kaneohe Klipper Course there on on base.  Shawn sinking a 40-50 foot chip from off the green and loudly rejoicing for all to hear....just minutes after making a similar shot goofing around with a second ball in his pocket on the prior hole!

But perhaps the fondest memories I have of my time in Hawaii were the hours in the truck, driving the "man car" around Oahu from one family excursion to the next (the women were in the minivan).  We talked about the future, God, raising kids, loving our wives, and what it might be like to have our families live in the same area in Spokane when he retired from the Marine Corps.  His humility, selflessness, and love for his family and His Savior will always stick with me.  I'm thankful I had the chance to take him to work at the hangar Monday morning before the accident and drop him off at work.  And that last conversation that lingered on Tuesday morning before we left Hawaii.  I remember thinking to myself "I wonder when we'll see each other again".....and now I know it will be in the presence of the King when there are no more tears, death has been defeated finally, and time itself is a thing of the past.  The weight of glory is now stronger in me due to Shawn, while he himself no longer looks through the mirror dimly.  

 

December 31st, 2015 was spent playing at Shawn and Kelli's home in Kailua, HI.  And when I say playing, I mean some serious playing was happening that New Year's Eve.  The adults sat in lawn chairs going back and forth between listening to Shawn play his favorite Classic Rock tunes on one phone and Kelli playing more of the current Pop music on her phone all the while kids are running around acting like we had spiked their lemonade at dinner.  There was a series of dance numbers and each time a child would come out with a new costume on we would ooh and aww over them, but when two year old Donovan came out in a beautiful red dress that was when we all lost it and couldn't help but encourage him and so we just kept that party going.  And then Shawn joined in playing the part of Repunzel.  

The Fireworks going off around us were nothing like I'd ever heard (Hawaiians love fireworks!) and didn't stop until way after midnight.  We did alot of planning and talking about what the future may hold for each of us.  It was a new year and we looked forward to what 2016 was going to bring our families.  And just 14 days later God would call our brother Shawn home to Himself.