Family, friends and the community will say their goodbyes Monday night to Sgt. J.P. Huling.
The marine was killed in Afghanistan while on foot patrol in Anwar Province.
His body arrived at the Butler County Regional Airport Sunday. A flag draped his casket.
Military veterans and parents with children lined the streets of West Chester to pay their respects to him and his family despite the rainy weather. Patriot guard riders escorted the hearse.
A visitation is scheduled at Huling's alma mater, Moeller High School, on Monday evening from 4 to 9 p.m. The funeral will take place Tuesday morning at St. Michael the Archangel in Sharonville. Huling will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Huling apparently confessed his uneasiness about his latest tour before leaving.
Last week, Local 12's Dan Spehler spoke with one of Hulin's closest friends. Kevin Lamb met J.P. at the kitchen of the Manor House in Mason. After a year as kitchen manager, Huling decided to join the military. "Every day we tried to talk him out of it. We wanted him to stay but he knew he wanted to do it. I think it was almost like an epiphany for him. He just kind of one day decided he wanted to serve his country," said Lamb.
The two friends kept in touch through the mail, even as J.P. served multiple tours overseas, and re-enlisted. But on his most recent deployment, Lamb recalls, "He said to me before he left, he said I don't feel so good about this one. Its almost like he knew before he even left. When I found out he died, I broke out all the letters and read him to the family because he became my little brother. He's like a brother and I'm gonna miss him. We never really thought of each other as friends. We thought of each other as brothers. I'm lucky to say the last time I saw him the last words I said was I love you man, be safe. I love you. It's going to take us a while to get over. I don't know if we ever will."
Huling recently graduated from ordinance disposal school and re-enlisted in the Marine Corps two years ago. He is married. His wife lives in California.
