Casey Sheehan

American soldier killed with seven others on April 4, 2004 in Sadr City, Iraq. Casey joined the Army in 2000 and re-enlisted in 2004, just days before his death. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas, he volunteered for the mission that led to his death. His family received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star which were awarded to him posthumously. The eldest of four children born to his parents, Sheehan was born on Memorial Day. As a child, he enjoyed Nintendo games, G.I. Joe figures, and watching the Los Angeles Dodgers, a childhood that his mother described as a "normal suburban upbringing." The family members were close and shared many activities. They moved to Vacaville from Norwalk when Casey was 14. As a young lad, Sheehan was an altar server at his community’s Roman Catholic church, an Eagle Scout, and a youth leader and counselor for a youth camp. The camp director remembered the boy: "Casey was quiet, but he loved to serve and it didn't matter whether it was working in the kitchen, backstage or up front. If something needed to be done, Casey was there to do it." At Vacaville High School, Casey enjoyed acting in school plays and toyed with the idea of a career associated with the theatre. After graduation in 1997, he attended Solano Community College, continuing his interest in acting but also writing entertainment articles. When he decided to join the army in 2000, his family, his teachers and his friends were surprised, describing him as "sweet" and "shy." His initial intention was to serve as an Army chaplain but instead he became a mechanic in his unit. In 2005, his mother, Cindy Sheehan, led a peace protest at President Bush's ranch in Crawford, TX, asking Bush to meet with her and other grieving families to explain the reasons behind the controversial war. Link to Wikipedia biography