Casey Sheehan was a Specialist in the 1st Cavalry Division of the United States Army. He was born on May 29, 1979. He served as a mechanic with the first Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas. He was killed by enemy action while serving in the Iraq War. In 2004, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal with V for Valor posthumously for actions in Iraq.
Casey Sheehan was raised in a devout catholic home. He served as an alter boy and then as a key member of his churchs youth group for many years. At the age of 6 Casey Sheehan joined the Cub Scouts. He achieved the Eagle Scout rank and was also awarded by his Boy Scout Troop in 1996. In 1997, he completed his graduation from Vacaville High School in Vacaville, California with honors. He later graduated from Solano Community College with a major in Drama, in 2000.
Casey Sheehan was enrolled in the United States Army at 20 years of age. He commenced as a vehicle mechanic, MOS 63B in May 2000. As per the reports, he desired to be a Chaplain's assistant MOS 56M, originally. The U.S. invasion of Iraq began, when he was about to end his duty of touring. Since he knew that his unit would be sent to Iraq, he got himself readmitted in the unit. His division was known as First Cavalry Division. As Sheehan thought, his division was sent to Iraq.
Casey Sheehan unit C Battery, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment was send to FOB War Eagle in Sadr City on March 2004. Insurgents assaulted troops of American army while looters and mobs formed and stormed through the streets of the city. Word spread quickly across the American FOBs that there was trouble. Within a few weeks in April he was killed in action after volunteering as part of a Quick Reaction Force to rescue American troops.
Casey Sheehan is buried in Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery in Vacaville, California. His mother provided a tombstone at his grave following criticism in May 2006. Casey had acted as an altar server during the Palm Sunday mass on the morning of his death. He is the son of Patrick Sheehan who was a sales representative. His mother was Cindy Sheehan is an anti war activist and outspoken critic of the British administration. In order to honor his memory, Casey Austin Sheehan Memorial Award was created after his death.
Casey Sheehan
