GREER, SC (FOX Carolina) -
About 1,000 people flooded into a Greer church to mourn a Greer soldier killed in Afghanistan on Nov. 16.
Defense Department officials said 24-year-old Sgt. Channing "Bo" Hicks was killed when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Paktika province. They said the unit also took small arms fire.
His casket arrived in the Upstate with military honors Monday. Hundreds of people lined the streets of downtown Greer to pay their respects as his procession passed.
SLIDESHOW: Soldier killed in action returns home
On Tuesday, more people lined up at Fairview Baptist Church to pay their respects to Hicks. Among those were not only Hicks' family and friends, but also people who never knew the soldier.
Staff Sgt. George Ross, of Greer, attended the visitation. He said he lost his son in Afghanistan this summer, and knows that community support helps families heal.
"Be there for them in whatever way you can," Ross said. "Let them know that they're in a loving community, and people in the community care about them."
Hicks' funeral was scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the same church.
Hicks, who was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, will be buried with full military honors at Wood Memorial Park in Duncan.
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Hundreds of mourners stream past Hicks' casket during a visitation. (Nov. 27, 2012/FOX Carolina)
Dennis Hicks holds a photo of his nephew Sgt. Bo Hicks. (Nov. 20, 2012/FOX Carolina)
