SHREVEPORT, La. - Mark Allen, a Springhill native and lifelong public servant, died early Sunday morning from cancer, his family announced in a Facebook post.

Allen’s commitment to service began early, inspired by his parents and a family tradition of military duty. His father and three brothers served in the Louisiana Army National Guard, with his father and a brother deployed during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Motivated by their example, Allen enlisted in the Guard and later attended officer candidate school.

In 2003, Allen deployed to Iraq with the 1083rd Transportation Company, leaving behind his wife and young son, Drew. His unit transported heavy-duty military vehicles into combat zones, including M-1 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, weighing up to 160,000 pounds com

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