U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, was honored by friends and family at a funeral in Hope Mills.
The Fort Bragg soldier, who was killed in action on July 19 while disposing of an Iranian drone in Iraq, was remembered with a funeral at Southview Baptist Church, located in Hope Mills.
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The funeral proceedings began with a viewing at 11 a.m., allowing family, friends and community members to pay their respects. The service was livestreamed on Facebook.
Among the speakers were two friends who served alongside Swinton.
Swinton's body arrived at Fayetteville Regional Airport on Monday. The soldier was honored with a water cannon salute before a procession to Hope Mills. Swinton's mother and wife were there.
Swinton was assigned to D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade in Fort Bragg.
"I think it's incredibly beautiful that he gets to come back to the place where it all started," said family friend Derissa Morris. "It's surreal, but it's beautiful, the showing of support and love and people coming together. Even seeing on social media how impactful it's been and how appreciative people are of him and of his service - that's huge. That's special."
Swinton, a Fayetteville native, went to Alger B. Wilkins, Jack Britt and Westover High Schools.
"He was loved by everybody," Morris said. "There was nobody who could ever tell you he was not kind and did not serve a beautiful purpose in their lives."
On Facebook, Christel Andujar, Swinton's mother, said it was an honor "to hear people speak about my beautiful boy," and said she will never forget the stories that his friends told her about him.
"Tell me the funny ones, the crazy ones, the ones that make you laugh until your stomach hurts, and the ones that remind us just how special he was. Every story is another piece of him that we get to hold onto," Andujar wrote. "I will do everything in my power to keep your memory and your legacy alive."
In an emotional speech, Jonathan Santiago, a friend who served alongside Swinton, remembered one of the last conversations the two had before he was deployed.
"The last time I saw Michael was when we went fishing right before he deployed. He said something that sounded like a joke, but deep down I knew he meant it. He told me that if he didn't make it home to make sure his family would be okay," said Santiago as he held back tears.
Swinton was honored with a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge and promoted to staff sergeant posthumously.