DAYTON DEANERY — Mary, Help of Christians Church in Fairborn was filled Nov. 30, and hundreds of people lined the streets during the Mass of Christian Burial for U.S. Army Specialist Jesse Snow, who was killed Nov. 14 when insurgents attacked his Army unit in the Kunar Province Afghanistan.

Snow, 25, made his First Communion and confirmation at the parish and was an altar server.

Father Charles Lang, pastor of Mary, Help of Christians, remembers Snow as a giving person.

“He was a very caring young man,” Father Lang said. “He was always interested in doing things for others. He was interested in serving others.”

Snow helped his neighbors with yard work and volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House in Dayton. He often gave toys and treats to Afghan children when his unit was deployed there. 

He was a 2003 graduate of Fairborn High School, where he played sports and was active in the junior ROTC.

In his homily at the funeral Mass, Father Lang spoke of Snow’s legacy of putting others first.

“This heroic young man’s habit of caring for others was not abandoned in the face of death, as shown in his concern for his fellow brothers-in-arms in the last moments of his life,” Father Lang said. “Tell his tales. Share his stories. Carry his message. Pray with joy. Do not be afraid, for Jesse has fought his last battle and is in the embrace of our loving God.”

He is survived by his parents, John and Janice Snow of Fairborn; his brothers, John, Jr. of Xenia, Daniel of Columbus, Robert and Alex of Fairborn; and a sister, Megan, also of Fairborn.

 Burial with full military honors was in Byron Cemetery in Fairborn.