A young Marine from Waterloo has just completed summer reservist duty in Virginia and has already done great things for his country and been recognized for it.

Sheldon Hoefft, a 2011 Waterloo High School grad, will be attending Missouri University of Science and Technology in the fall with different kinds of training under his belt.

This summer, he worked with the British Royal Marine Commandos for two weeks.

During Operation Red Dagger training, Sheldon received two commendations: a dagger from the 131st British Royal Marines Commandos for exemplary action that they felt was needed to be a Royal Marine and the Command Coin of Excellence from the Lieutenant Colonel and the Sergeant Major of the 6th Engineer Support Battalion for “going above and beyond” what was asked of him during the operation Red Dagger.

During this operation, he led three separate demolitions ranges for practical military operations. As a reservist, Hoefft spent two weeks or more each summer in active duty.

In the summer of 2012, he went to Senegal, Africa for his summer duty working with the Senegal military.  Last summer, he went to West Virginia to help build cabins for the National Boy Scout Conference.

This year was the trip to Quantico, Va., working with the British Royal Marines.  As part of this duties at Quantico, he led, in part, the clearing of a landing zone for an Osprey helicopter.

His mother, Lisa Huebner, said when she told him he was the best, he said:

“Not the best, I am just working hard. The best are the ones that have given it all for what I do. I’m just trying to uphold the image.”

Hoefft, 21, has previously taken classes at SWIC and Columbia Community College in Rolla, Mo., and is working toward a degree in mining and explosives engineering.