2 California Soldiers Die in Baghdad

The parents of Spc. Casey Sheehan thought it was out of character when the quiet young man and former altar boy joined the Army four years ago.

But while grieving their son’s recent death in Iraq, Pat and Cindy Sheehan began to understand his decision better: Their son, who had done volunteer work as a Boy Scout and had been a camp counselor, seemed happiest when helping others.

“It occurred to us that he died in uniform, which is a continuing theme for his life of service,” his father said from the family’s home in Vacaville, Calif.

Sheehan, 24, was one of eight soldiers killed April 4 in Baghdad. He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas.

Sheehan had a behind-the-scenes job maintaining Humvees and typically was not supposed to become engaged in firefights. But he volunteered to go out on a mission to extract soldiers caught in a hostile situation with insurgents, Pat Sheehan said he had been told by his son’s sergeant. “He made a choice and he gave his life doing it,” his father said.

Sheehan was born in Bellflower while his family lived in Norwalk, where they were members of St. John of God Catholic Church. At 14, his family moved to Vacaville. After graduating from Vacaville High School in 1997, Sheehan attended Solano Community College. At 21, he came home one day and announced that he was the newest Army recruit. “He said he was ready for a change and he wanted to serve,” his father said.

A funeral Mass will be said for Sheehan on Tuesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, followed by burial at Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery.

In addition to his parents, Sheehan also is survived by two sisters, Carly, 23, and Jane, 18; a brother, Andy, 20; his paternal grandparents, Frank and Jeanette Sheehan of Chino Hills; and his maternal grandmother, Shirley Miller of Bellflower.