Son (Casey Sheehan) killed in Iraq known for quiet service

[DELUSIONAL]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Peace%20Mom%20Son


The photo above is from the P.I.'s opening page -- and the story is at the top -- the lead story!

SAN FRANCISCO -- He was an altar boy, an Eagle Scout, a church youth group leader. That is what people remember about Casey Sheehan, the 24-year-old soldier whose death in Iraq has become a flashpoint for debate about the war since his mother began staging a peace vigil outside the president's ranch in Texas.

Among family and friends - not to mention TV pundits, Internet bloggers and newspaper columnists - opinions vary about Cindy Sheehan's demand to meet with the president to talk about why the U.S. went to war. Like others, they struggle with whether her determination to bring the war home honors or diminishes his choice to join the Army.

But those who knew the young man she so publicly mourns agree that if anyone is an appropriate face for the war's more than 1,800 U.S. deaths, it is Casey. He had a gentle but firm commitment to family, church and country, re-enlisting after the war started and volunteering for the rescue mission in which he and six others were killed last year.

<snip>

Nice background story on Casey Sheehan -- by Seattle's newspaper -- Seattle Post Intelligencer.

[Pirate Smile]

1. more

Stefanie Fereday-Mannel, a fellow member of St. Mary's Church in Vacaville, recalls how close the family was, and how Casey shared his mother's deep faith and commitment to the church, even as a teenager. When Cindy Sheehan worked as a youth minister, Casey helped found the church's youth group and remained active even after graduating from high school.

"At some point church can be not the cool thing to do, and I remember always admiring Casey for being so dedicated to church as a young person," Fereday-Mannel said. "He didn't really care what people said or thought. He had very strong values about his family and church."

-snip-
Sheehan had dreams of working as an Army chaplain's assistant, but wound up working as a mechanic. His division, the First Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Tex., was sent to Iraq in March 2004. The last time his parents spoke to him he was on his way to attend Mass before getting ready to convoy into Baghdad.

"On April 4, Palm Sunday, we got the word that Casey had been killed in an ambush," Cindy Sheehan wrote in her essay. "The first chance he got, my brave, wonderful, faithful, sweet, gentle and kind boy volunteered for a rescue mission ... Casey and 20 of his buddies were sent into a raging insurgent uprising to rescue wounded soldiers. Only 13 of them returned."

[lostnfound]

2. Who RAISED him to be 'altar boy/Eagle Scout/church youth group leader?'

Oh, could it be... his MOTHER?

I know, you can't blame or credit parents for everything. But RWers like O'Reilly slander Gold-star parents who don't shut up and suffer in silence after their sons have been lied to their deaths..as if they have the right to judge the final finish of a mother-son relationship that spanned 20+ years of meals, trips to boy scout meetings, 30,000 hours of parental guidance and 100,000 hours of love.

Nice article though by and large.

[Tsiyu]

3. It's so easy to lose sight

of Cindy Sheehan's purpose in Crawford.

Casey is her purpose. Casey and all the other soldiers who have been murdered for oil and greed.

Each one of these fallen individuals was a light in this world. Casey was a light of hope, a man who cared about others, about his faith, about his family and his church and ultimately, his fellow soldiers.

And his loss doesn't just affect Cindy and his community; it affects us all. We will never know what incredible things Casey might have accomplished in this sad old world. In the short time he was here, he touched so many lives, and he made his own life count for something. There is no doubt in my mind that he would have gone on to be part of the solution, that he would have devoted his life to helping others.

Instead, he was used and killed by leaders who only want to destroy and kill and control. We lost him due to arrogance and apathy and insatiable greed.

We can't afford to lose any more of our hope. Yet every day, we do.

Cindy Sheehan and all of those who support her are saying, "Enough."

Thank you, DELUSIONAL, for taking this time to remember Casey. We need to remember Casey.

[DanCa]

4. Quiet Service

My dad told me once. True men dont need to brag. About how tough they are, how much money they have, and how much love they have for god in thier hearts. Casey rest in peace *salutes.*

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[lonestarnot]

6. Thanks Casey for being you and thanks Cindy for your part in the man that

he was and is to all of us now. And thanks Delusional thanks for the post.

[DELUSIONAL]

8. Casey and the others killed in this war

are apparently just disposable numbers to the bush gang.

This article tells us about Casey and WHY his mother is mourning his murder -- he was a unique, irreplaceable individual.

bushie and his gang have no comprehension of what this war is costing America.

I especially like the photo of Cindy holding that sign as bushie speeds past her returning from his fund raiser (bribes and pay-offs).

The press is down in Crawford, bored out of their minds and along comes Cindy -- unplanned on her part.

Cindy is operating from a position of truth and honesty -- in contrast to bushie who never fails to lie when given the chance.

[nookiemonster]

7. kick!

n/t