HAZLECREST (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Although he died in Kenya, U.S. Army Specialist Henry Mayfield Jr. is back home.
Mayfield was one of three killed when a terrorist group attacked a military base in Kenya.
A plane returned the 23-year-old's body to his hometown of Hazel Crest Wednesday afternoon.
From O'Hare Airport, a processional made up of dozens of police cars drove past Mayfield's alma mater, Hillcrest High School. Students, staff and community members paid tribute for Mayfield by wearing yellow ribbons, carrying American flags and lining up along 175th and Pulaski.
"Just to know that he gave his life for his country, that's amazing, but it's really sad and heartbreaking," said Jaedah Franks, a senior at Hillcrest.
Mayfield's former fine arts, teacher Jamilah Adebesin Mason, remembers Henry fondly.
"All I can remember right now was his laugh. As a teacher when we let our students go, we want them to flourish and we want them to have long lives and successful lives, so to know that he went to the military attempting to better himself and take care of school and to know he lost his life in that matter, it really, it broke my heart.
The procession also took Mayfield past Hazel Crest Village Hall.
A visitation is scheduled for Saturday at House of Hope Church.