Casey Austin Sheehan
Specialist, U.S. Army

Casey Austin Sheehan was born on 29 May 1979 in Vacaville, CA. He is the son of Patrick Sheehan, a sales representative, and Cindy Sheehan, who subsequently became a prominent anti-war protester.

Sheehan joined the Cub Scouts at the age of six. At eight he became an altar server at his church.   In 1996, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the second awarded by his Boy Scout Troop (180). Sheehan graduated from Vacaville High School in Vacaville, CA, with honors in 1997. Three years later, he graduated from Solano Community College with an Associate's Degree in Drama.

In May 2000, Sheehan enlisted in the U.S. Army as a light-wheeled vehicle mechanic, MOS 63B. It has been reported that he may have considered enlisting as a Chaplain's assistant. (Sheehan had acted as an altar server during the Palm Sunday mass on the morning of his death).

Near the end of his active service, the U.S. invasion of Iraq began. Sheehan re-enlisted, knowing that his unit would be sent there. Sheehan's division, the First Cavalry Division, was sent to Iraq. On 19 March 2004, Sheehan's Battery C, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, arrived at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Camp War Eagle in Sadr City.

On 4 April 2004, Sheehan was killed in action after volunteering to be part of a Quick Reaction Force to rescue American troops.

Medals and Awards (Posthumous)

Purple Heart
Bronze Star Medal with Combat "Valor" Device

Honors

The chapel at Fort Hood started a new Knights of Columbus chapter that was named the Specialist Casey Austin Sheehan Council.

After his death, the Casey Austin Sheehan Memorial Award was created as an annual award to honor his memory.

Death and Burial

Casey Austin Sheehan was killed in action on 4 April 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq. He is buried at Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery in Vacaville, CA.