Tatum Honors Fallen Soldier

TATUM - A Tatum soldier killed in action was brought home this afternoon.

Hundreds gathered at the Gregg County airport to welcome home a fallen hero.

Sergeant First Class Alejandro Granado was killed on August 2nd during a combat patrol in Afghanistan.

Childhood friends say he was home just weeks ago during the Fourth of July weekend before shipping out again.

"From what I understand, he could have stayed here and went on to another military camp somewhere here in the United States, being able to retire, but he wanted to go back and fight for his country," Mr. Granado's friend, Robin Palmer, says.

A Special Forces Sergeant, Granado's family says he was fiercely loyal.

"Just you know, he loved this country, he loved doing what he did. He always had a smile on his face over anything," Sergeant Granado's nephew, Juan Cruz, says.

During the procession, people lined streets.

In other places single families sat if front of their homes to honor a local hero.

Friends say Sergeant Granado loved his home town. He played high school football and ran track at Tatum.