Very little is known about what caused the death of 21-year-old Pfc. David Winchester, who was found in his barracks at Fort Bragg last week. Known by his loved ones as Shiver, it’s been an emotional week as his family prepares for burial just after the Thanksgiving holiday. Throughout the unexpected grief, they say that the support and prayers they’ve received has been overwhelming.
Shiver Winchester was raised in the small community of Adamsville, Alabama. In a statement, Lt. Col. Aric Bowman, commander of the 261st MMB, described Shiver as an enthusiastic high-performer who touched the lives of those around him. His aunt, Clarissa Winchester, said he was big-hearted, sweet, and respectful.
She says her family has been touched by the response from the community.
“We were all taken aback by the unity that has been shown,” Winchester told Yellowhammer.
In a Facebook post that has been viewed by thousands, she shares the moment Shiver’s body arrived in Alabama for burial. According to her, that was when the family realized how much his service meant to others, including total strangers.
“There was a lady walking on a sidewalk with her children, and when we drove by in a procession, she made all of her young kids stop to show respect. She didn’t have to do that,” she said. “Another man was walking his dog, and removed his baseball cap when he saw us drive by.”
On Thanksgiving Day, another member of the family was working a shift at Cracker Barrel, and heard that a patron was holding an empty seat at his table in Shiver’s honor.
According to Winchester, prayers and well-wishes have poured in from across the state. The American Legion’s Freedom Riders group offered to escort the family from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport to the funeral home, ready to block any sign of protests or anti-military disruptions along the way.
Winchester says that she hopes more media outlets will honor the memory of Shiver and other servicemen like him by showing more examples of supportive communities.
“The media does not show you the respect. The media does not show you the patriotism, or the concern,” she said. “I just hope people know how much it means to us.”
