A southwest Missouri soldier who lost his life in a firefight in eastern Afghanistan has come home for the last time. Army Staff Sergeant Philip Svitak has been laid to rest in his hometown of Joplin. Svitak’s family was joined by soliders from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in payingrespects Svitak. His brother-in-law, Sean Starmer, told 400 mourners at the funeral held at the Church of Christ that when one gives his life for his country, he should never be forgotten.
