Plymouth remembers hero - a fallen soldier

The procession bringing the 21-year-old soldier’s casket from Hanscom Air Force Base was met by onlookers paying their respects as it made its way through Plymouth. The motorcade traveled past Plymouth Rock and a picturesque beachfront, through the quiet residential neighborhood where Sherman grew up, and stopped at Davis Funeral Home.

Flags flying at half-staff waved in the sea breeze, and the route was decorated with yellow ribbons. Restaurant sandwich boards bore messages honoring Sherman, including one that read, “Thank you, Ben.’’

Sherman was a paratrooper with the Fourth Brigade Combat Team of the 82d Airborne Division. He disappeared with a fellow soldier Nov. 4, when they jumped into a river in western Afghanistan in an attempt to recover supplies. Reports indicate Sherman may have jumped into the water to aid the other soldier, who appeared to be struggling against the current. An intensive military search began for the two men after the Taliban released a statement saying they had the bodies of the servicemen. The Taliban later retracted that statement.

Sherman graduated from Plymouth South High School in 2006 and was remembered by friends as a lover of music, tattoos, paintball, and cycling. He was about to become a father. Sherman’s wife, Patricia, 21, is expecting the couple’s first child in March.

At the Cuisine of Mark Connolly restaurant, clerk Jill Davin, a Manomet native, held back tears as she recalled Sherman. She and her co-workers knew his family.

“It’s emotional,’’ she said. “He sacrificed his life for us, and our hearts go out to his family.’’

When the procession passed the Plymouth Fire Department headquarters, a dozen firefighters snapped to attention and saluted, with a large American flag hanging from a raised 100-foot tower ladder.

Sherman’s cousin Jeremiah Richmond is a Fire Department lieutenant.

“In honor and as a show of respect for Sergeant Sherman, as well as for Lieutenant Richmond, we presented the flag and stood at attention,’’ said Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Murphy. “We honor all veterans, and there are quite a few on the department who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq.’’

The Department of Defense confirmed yesterday that Sherman died during a resupply mission. It also identified the second soldier as Sergeant Brandon T. Islip, 23, of Richmond. Islip is listed as “duty status whereabouts unknown,’’ which is a term used when a servicemember is suspected to be but has not been confirmed as missing or killed.

A large number of people are expected for Sherman’s funeral. The service will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Second Church of Plymouth. The 200-seat church is expected to be filled, with plans for a public address system to be set up for mourners outside the church. A military burial will follow at Manomet Cemetery.

Outside their home in Manomet, Sherman’s family greeted reporters, but politely said they would have no comment.

John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com.