Lance Cpl. Shayne M. Cabino

September 26, 2009

The Annual Shayne M. Cabino Memorial Run raised thousands of dollars. Due to the success, the Shayne M. Cabino Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded $5,000.00 in scholarships to 5 Canton High School 2007 and 2008 graduates.

This would not have been possible without the generous donations of friends, neighbors, and local businesses.

On September 13, 2008, the "Third Annual Shayne M. Cabino Memorial Run" will take place at the American Legion Post 106, Sharon, MA 02067.

We need the help of local businesses such as yours to achieve the same success we were rewarded with last year.

We welcome your tax-deductible donations.

Your generosity is important to our success. On behalf of the Shayne M. Cabino Scholarship Fund and the Canton High School students who benefit from your generosity, please accept our thanks for your support.

Shayne M. Cabino

Monday, October 10 2005 @ 08:18 AM EDT Boston Globe -- CANTON -- Shayne M. Cabino was a standout wrestler with a cheery disposition who did not have to struggle to be popular among his peers. On Thursday, Cabino, 19, was one of four Marines killed when an improvised explosive device detonated on a roadside near Karmah in Iraq. Teary-eyed family members and friends gathered last night at the police station, some wearing white T-shirts bearing his picture, and described him as a gregarious teenager whose zest for life made for a colorful personality. ''Simply stated, Shayne wanted to make the world a better place," said family friend Jim Stoffel of Franklin, reading a statement on behalf of the family. On the wrestling mat, Cabino competed his freshman year in the 103-pound weight class for Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School in Franklin. He ''had kind of a natural talent to him," coach Mark LeBlanc said yesterday in a telephone interview. ''He was very successful that year." Cabino ''had a little bit of character and was confident for his size," LeBlanc said. ''He wasn't quiet." Cabino lived in Canton with his father, William, a correctional officer at MCI-Cedar Junction, and his stepmother, Mary. He had spent his younger years in Franklin, attending Tri-County Regional, before moving to Canton, where he graduated from Canton High School in 2004. He joined the Marine Corps at age 18, several months after graduating, underwent basic training at Parris Island, S.C., and headed to Iraq three months ago. Cabino was a mortarman, responsible for operating the 81mm mortar, for the Second Battalion, Second Marine Regiment, which is part of the II Marine Expeditionary Force based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. ''They were training and working alongside the Iraqi security forces to deny insurgents access to and from developing strongholds around the city" of Fallujah, said Lieutenant Barry Edwards, a base spokesman. Also killed in the attack were Corporal Nicholas O. Cherava, 21, of Ontonagon, Mich.; Lance Corporal Patrick B. Kenney, 20, of Pittsburgh; and Private Jason L. Frye, 19, of Landisburg, Pa. Cabino had already received three service awards and is expected to receive a Purple Heart posthumously, according to Edwards. ''Shayne was extremely proud of the uniform he wore, and the fact that he was serving his country," Stoffel said. High school teammates also recalled his gregarious nature. ''You'd notice him out of a crowd," said Greg Ambrose, 22, of North Attleborough, who was captain of Cabino's Tri-County Regional wrestling team. ''He was very outgoing and was very talented for someone who came onto the team with no experience." ''Life as we know it will never be the same," Stoffel said. ''Yet we know Shayne will always be with us." He also leaves his mother, Jodi Cabino-Cipriano; and four brothers and two sisters.

Capt. Joel E. Cahill



Hometown: Norwood, Massachusetts, U.S.

Age: 34 years old

Died: November 6, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee in Ad Dawr.

Since 2001, Joel E. Cahill kept busy. He served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, earned a Bronze Star and was on his second tour in Iraq. Not that his family knew much about any of that. "He was kind of tightlipped about everything he did in the service," said his brother, Randy. "He wasn''t one to brag about anything, he kind of downplayed everything." Cahill, 34, originally of Norwood, Mass., was killed Nov. 6 by a roadside bomb near Dawr. He was assigned to Fort Benning. The 15-year Army veteran graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1999 and later became a decorated member of the Army Rangers. One of his squads was responsible for setting up support services for the extrication of Pvt. Jessica Lynch. Most recently Cahill''s company was asked to ensure the safety of Iraq''s democratic elections. "Anything he did, he did it at 115 percent and he was great at it," said another brother, Jason. "He loved being around family and kids. He could walk in a room and his face would light up when he was around our kids." He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their two daughters, Faith, 4 and Brenna, 3.

Joel E. Cahill Captain, United States Army

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense No. 1167-05 IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2005 Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000 Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711 DoD Identifies Army Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Captain Joel E. Cahill, 34, of Norwood, Massachusetts, died in Ad Dawr, Iraq, on November 6, 2005, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV.  Cahill was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia. For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000. A local soldier believed strongly in the war that took his life, his family said Tuesday. Army Captain Joel Cahill, 34, was serving his third tour in Iraq when he was killed by a roadside bomb Monday, according to his sister Erin Christensen, of Gretna. Cahill was a Papillion-La Vista High School graduate, and was one of five siblings in his family. Cahill's brother is Omaha Police Department Detective Larry Cahill. Cahill's family said he helped with the rescue of Jessica Lynch, who was taken hostage early in the war in Iraq, and recently Cahill helped with the elections in Iraq. He spent 15 years in the military. Joel Cahill left behind his wife, Mary, and their two daughters, Faith, 4 and Brenna, 3. They are in Georgia.  Cahill's sister said it was his family for which her brother was fighting. "He strongly believed this is what he needed to do to keep his girls safe in the future. He strongly believed he was doing the right thing," Christensen said. "He laid his life down for this country, and for us, as well as all the soldiers who have perished," said sibling Jason Cahill. The soldier was described as a hero by his family, and as intelligent, funny and athletic. Family members said they'll miss him greatly. "He was a wonderful brother, father, husband, son and soldier. We'll miss everything about him," said Larry Cahill. Services are planned at Arlington National Cemetery next week. 8 November 2005: Eyes glistening, four siblings of U.S. Army Captain Joel Cahill reminisced Tuesday morning about the man who had devoted his life to serving his country. Cahill, 33, and a 1990 graduate of Papillion-La Vista High School, was killed Sunday morning by a roadside bomb five miles from his base camp in Iraq. From what the family can discern, Cahill was riding in a Humvee returning from a raid in a neighboring city when it rode over an improvised electronic device and detonated on his side of the car. He was the only fatality of the five men in the vehicle. The Army Ranger was less than three months from returning home to Georgia to rejoin his wife, Mary, and two little girls Faith, 4, and Brenna, 3. He is survived by parents Larry and Barbara Cahill, sister Erin Christensen of Gretna, brothers Jason of Columbia, Mo., and Randy of Papillion and Larry of Omaha. Cahill's current tour of duty in Iraq wasn't his first and over time, said his brother-in-law, Frank, and the family started to think Joel was invincible against the enemy. Cahill would regularly assure his parents, and the family as a whole, that he was relatively safe. "He often expressed to my mom, to keep her calm while he was gone, 'Don't worry about me, there's lots that could happen, but the only thing that could kill me is an IED,'" Erin said. "He said, 'Don't worry about that, because that's by chance and you can't keep worrying about a chance,' and that's ultimately what killed him." For the approximately 15 years he's been a member of the U.S. Army, either as an enlisted soldier or a commissioned officer, Cahill spent about eight years as a member of the special forces Army Rangers unit. Since graduating from high school, Cahill's life has been the Army, his siblings said. He shipped off to basic training in 1990, one day after his brother Larry got married and with the exception of a short stint at Creighton University, Cahill had been full-time active duty ever since. One of his squads was responsible for setting up support services for the extrication of Pvt. Jessica Lynch in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Most recently Cahill was given command of an entire company and its assignment was to ensure the safety of Iraq's democratic elections. Joel's siblings gathered at their sister's home Tuesday to share photos and memories of their brother. They remembered their brother as extremely intelligent and athletic. "Anything he did, he did it at 115 percent and he was great at it," Jason said, who played football at PLV High when he was a sophomore and Joel was a senior. "He loved being around family and kids. He could walk in a room and his face would light up when he was around our kids," Jason said. "He had a very dry sense of humor. He just loved being around family and his wife and his girls. I don't know anybody who loved this country more than he did." Joel was a man dedicated to his wife and children, to his family and to his country, Erin said. "I asked him several times, 'Do we really need to be there?' and if this is something we should be doing," she said. He strongly believed that this was what he needed to do to keep his girls safe in the future. He strongly believed he was doing the right thing and that there was a cause." The effect of Cahill's death has been different for everyone, but the family will be leaning on each other for support, Larry said. "Our family is a very close family and we are there to support one another and we'll get through it," he said. "It's extremely difficult right now, but we'll get through it." Yesterday Larry's oldest son, Carter, dug out a box of medals and patches his uncle had won and was grieving that way. "Carter idolizes my brother and forever wanted to follow in his footsteps since he was very little," Larry said. "Joel wrote him a letter explaining what each of the patches meant - they had a pretty close relationship - and my son set all these medals out on the table and read the letter over and over again yesterday." His brothers and sisters want Joel to be remembered as a hero. "I would hope people would consider him the hero he is," Larry said. "He laid his life down for this country and for us. I think I speak for all my siblings when I say that we believe what he was doing was important, and that his life isn't in vain. "I believe it's important for us to tell as many people as possible about him. We support my brother and all the soldiers and what they are doing. "I think it's important for us to get that message out to people so that nobody will forget that these people have made the ultimate sacrifice for our rights." As they grieve, the Cahill siblings are savoring every memory and aspect of their brother's life. "There's not one thing about my brother that we won't miss," Larry said. "He was a wonderful brother, a wonderful father, husband, son and a soldier. We'll miss everything about him." The Joel Cahill Memorial Fund has been established at all Pinnacle Bank locations, and his siblings ask the public to remember their brother by giving to that fund. Funeral services will be held November 18, 2005, at Arlington National Cemetery. At some point after that, the family will organize a memorial service in the Omaha area. 10 November 2005: A 34-year-old company commander, who had earned his college degree and an ROTC commission after several years as an enlisted man, became the 29th Fort Benning soldier killed this year in Iraq, the victim of a roadside bomb on Sunday. Captain Joel Cahill, 34, commander of B Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, died near Dawr, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee. He is the ninth member of the 1-15 -- the fifth during the last three weeks -- to die of wounds suffered in bombings. He is also the highest ranked soldier from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team to die in action in 2005. Bravo Company, which Cahill took command of in August, is rich in Army lore, being the company of World War II's most decorated soldier, Audie Murphy. "It's hard to believe," his brother, Randy Cahill, told the Lincoln Journal Star as family members gathered at his La- Vista, Neb., home to mourn Joel. "We'll be laughing about things that have happened one minute and crying the next." Maj. Steve Warren, 3rd Brigade public affairs officer, said after learning of Cahill's death, "We can't seem to climb out from under this black cloud." After suffering 11 deaths in October and three more during the first six days of November, the brigade has lost almost as many soldiers the past six weeks as during its first nine months in Iraq. Earlier this week, fellow Nebraskan and 1-15 soldier Specialist Darren Howe died of injuries from a roadside bomb in Samarra, Iraq, in mid-October. Howe's funeral is scheduled for Friday in his hometown of Beatrice, about two hours south of the Omaha suburbs of Papillion and LaVista where Cahill attended high school and college. Though he was born in Norwood, Massachusetts, and lived in Wrentham, Massachusetts, as a youth, Cahill's family relocated to Nebraska before he began high school. The 15-year Army veteran is a graduate of Papillion-LaVista High and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he graduated with honors in 1999 and garnered an ROTC commission. After graduating from high school in 1989, where he had been a star linebacker on the school football team, Cahill joined the Army and later became a decorated member of the Rangers. His brother told the Star that Joel had a good sense of humor, was compassionate and cared about his troops. "I think being with his family is probably his favorite pastime," Randy Cahill said, acknowledging nonetheless that his brother had spent most of the last four years abroad, including a 2003 deployment to Iraq. Joel Cahill had earned several awards and honors, including a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Soldier's Medal, said Randy, adding that his brother was in full support of the war and strongly believed in America's mission in Iraq. "They supported their elections and worked on infrastructure," Randy said. "They probably spent more time on that than actual combat." Cahill leaves behind his wife, Mary, and two daughters -- Faith, 4, and Brenna, 3. Cahill's sister Erin Christen- sen, who lives in Gretna, Neb., said her brother "loved his job and loved what he did. He said he needed to do his job to keep his girls safe in the future." Other survivors include his parents, Larry and Barbara Cahill; brother Larry Jr., all from the Omaha area; and brother Jason, of Columbia, Missouri. Cahill's unit was returning from a raid on an insurgent stronghold when the roadside bomb exploded near their Humvee. "His unit and several other units were conducting a raid on a city," said Larry Cahill Jr. "From what we understand, they completed their mission and were returning to base." Cahill's sister said her brother had mentioned that "the only thing that could kill me would be an IED and he said don't worry about that because it's just by chance and we can't keep worrying about a chance." Cahill will be buried Nov. 18 in Arlington National Cemetery. Not surprising, as Arlington is also Audie Murphy's final resting place. To Child, Army Captain's Death Is Beyond Grasp Georgia Captain Remembered As a Committed Father By Brigid Schulte Courtesy of  The Washington Post Staff Saturday, November 19, 2005 Yesterday, a cold, bright autumn day, 4-year-old Faith Cahill, bundled in a white hat and shiny black patent leather shoes, climbed onto her weeping mother's lap. Red and gold leaves floated down and lay on the grass of Arlington National Cemetery. She watched from the front row as six somber soldiers folded the U.S. flag that had draped the shiny silver coffin of her father, Army Captain Joel E. Cahill, 34, who was killed in Iraq on November 6, 2005. He was on his fourth overseas tour -- after two in Afghanistan and one previous tour in Iraq. He had been gone for most of her life. He was supposed to be home for good in January. A procession arrives for the Arlington funeral of Army Captain Joel E. Cahill, killed November 6, 2005 in Iraq A military band slowly played "America the Beautiful." Major General Howard B. Bromberg took the flag in his crisp, white-gloved hands and held it out to her mother, Mary. Faith reached out for it with her little white-mittened hands. A child giggled. They say that very young children such as Faith and her sister, Brenna, 3, experience death at least twice -- the first time, as at yesterday's funeral, uncomprehendingly. The children don't understand the words the chaplain said , including "forever," "rest in peace" and "ashes to ashes." When they are older, maybe 8 or 9, they will realize that death isn't like what they see in cartoons. They will understand that a roadside bomb killed their father as he rode in the passenger seat of a Humvee, near the town of Dawr, about 85 miles north of Baghdad, and that unlike a cartoon character, he can't put himself back together again. It will hit that he really won't be coming home. And they will grieve. They will have photographs and a box of medals that he was awarded in his 15 years in the Army -- the Bronze Star for valor, the Soldier's Medal and the Purple Heart. And they will have the memories of others. Perhaps someone will tell them that their father defied Army tradition and that at monthly gatherings at Fort Benning -- not far from his home in Columbus, Ga. -- when everyone was expected to leave children with babysitters, he organized a rebellion among young officers. "I remember him coming in, holding an adorable little girl in his arms, and another one holding his hand," his friend Maj. Steve Warren said from Iraq. "He just said: 'I decided to bring the girls. Every minute counts.' " Cahill was born in Norwood, Massachusetts, and later moved to Nebraska. He joined the Army out of high school and received an ROTC officer's commission while at the University of Nebraska. Cahill was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, the division in which Audie Murphy, the most decorated veteran of World War II, served. On Cahill's first tour, one of his squads helped support the rescue of Private First Class Jessica Lynch. He had recently taken command of Bravo Company. His death hit hard, said Warren, the brigade's public affairs officer. "We were devastated. There was an absolute dark cloud over this base for probably a week," he said. They flew two Chinook helicopters with more than 60 high-ranking officers to another base for his memorial. "We were taking some risks, but he commanded such respect . . . you've got to accept some risks," Warren said. At the funeral, as Cahill's coffin was lowered from the clattering horse-drawn caisson, Brenna, standing in the front row, turned away. Standing tiptoe, she stretched her arms overhead. Her mother lifted her, and the little girl laid her head on her shoulder. Posted on Wednesday, 29 March 2006 Destined for greatness Months after receiving the Army's most prestigious company command, Joel Cahill was killed in Iraq BY MICK WALSH Courtesy of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Mary Cahill, widow of Captain Joel Cahill who was killed in Iraq, with the Flag Box  presented to her by the Army. Cahill, a former Army nurse, is living  with her two childern, Faith 5 and Brenna 3 in a Columbus surburb. More photos It wasn't her first visit to Arlington National Cemetery. And it undoubtedly won't be her last. She and her husband had made several visits there in 2002 while she was attending a month-long nursing class at Walter Reed Hospital and he was enjoying leave time from the Army. "We loved that beautiful place," said Mary Cahill. On this late autumn day in 2005, however, she was walking the rolling hills of this sacred land with a casualty assistance officer, the person charged with handling details of Captain Joel Cahill's funeral. Resting place From his first visit to Arlington, Joel had known it was the place he wanted to be buried, just in case he didn't make it back from Iraq. "Oh, we had two earlier conversations on that subject, and another when he came home in July on R&R," said Mary Cahill. "He never wavered. He didn't want anything special at his service, just a headstone like all the others buried there." Just like the one marking the grave of Joel's old special ops buddy, Staff Sergeant Joseph E. Suponcic, killed in Kosovo years ago. Joel thought so much of Suponcic that he wore a silver bracelet on his wrist in remembrance of his pal. Mary now wears the bracelet. From that gravesite Mary could see workers digging a nearby grave. She told the mortuary officer, "That's where Joel will be buried, I just know it." He told her that was not a certainty, that there were several funerals scheduled at Arlington on Friday, November 18, 2005. But on the next day, when the family arrived for the services, they were taken to the exact spot she had predicted. Phone call Just two weeks earlier, Mary Cahill had been speaking on the phone with an old friend. Sunday dinner with the neighbors had gone well, the girls had just been put to bed and Mary could spend some quality time with her friend just as soon as she put away a few things. Talking on her cell phone, she went into the garage. That's when she heard the knock on the door. "I peeked around the corner and saw two men in Class A's on the porch. My heart sank." As a former Army nurse, one married to a Ranger who had finally got himself an infantry company command, Mary Cahill knew why they were at her doorstep. "Are you sure?" were the only words she could get out. She immediately called Barb Cahill, Joel's mother. "She could tell I was nervous, scared," said Mary. "Joel's dead, isn't he?" said Barb. Seconds later, Mary heard the screams of Joel's sister Erin through the phone. "It was a horrible night," Mary said. Hand-picked More than 30 soldiers with close ties to Fort Benning were killed in either Iraq or Afghanistan over the past year and in each case, the next of kin were notified by soldiers from the nearest Army installation. Many of them died the same way Joel Cahill did, from injuries suffered when a roadside bomb was detonated near their vehicles. Such a blast killed Cahill on November 6, 2006, near Ad Dawr, Iraq. This isn't how the Cahill story was supposed to end. After all, Captain Joel Cahill was commander of Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, the same company World War II's most decorated soldier, Audie Murphy, had commanded. Commanders of Baker Company were destined to become Army stars. When 1-15 commander Lieutenant Colonel Gary Brito picked him from the 3rd Brigade staff to head up B Company, Cahill knew immediately that it had once been Murphy's outfit. In fact, he'd written a paper on the life of Murphy while earning his commission through the Creighton University ROTC program. "He pretty much knew all there is to know about Audie Murphy," said Mary. "But what was important to Joel," she continued, "was that he was finally in charge of his own company. And he had promised himself he'd be the best commander he could be. He never really talked much about it being the same company that Audie Murphy commanded." "He was the finest Captain I've ever met," said 3rd Brigade commander Colonel Steven Salazar. "He was incredibly competent, well grounded, very calm. Whenever I had a special project that needed to be done, I went to Joel." Salazar thought enough of Cahill to nominate him for the Army's MacArthur Leadership Award, which will be presented to Cahill's family in May. Love and marriage There was little to link Cahill and Murphy when the Gretna, Nebraska, resident joined the Army back in 1990, fresh out of high school, where he'd been an outstanding football player. He and a pal had planned to enlist together, recalled Cahill's mother, Barb. "He passed his physical OK," she laughed. "But the other boy flunked his. So Joel headed off to Fort Benning for basic training by himself, living in barracks not far from where his grandfather (John Joseph Foley) had trained back during World War II days. We were so proud of him the day he graduated. I asked him how he put up with all the yelling and screaming of his drill instructor and he told me, 'Mom, I grew up with you -- I'm used to it.' " It didn't take young Cahill long to realize he would not climb very far, or very fast, in today's Army without a college degree. So, after a few years as an enlisted man, during which he completed Ranger School, he separated from the Army briefly, enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Omaha to pursue his degree and immediately joined nearby Creighton University's ROTC program. It was there, in 1997, that he met a fellow ROTC cadet, Creighton nursing student Mary Mentele. "I really didn't have much interest in him until my junior year," she said this week at the north Columbus home she shares with their daughters, Faith, 5, and Brenna, 3 1/2. On May 15, 1999, the same weekend that Cahill completed his degree requirements and earned his commission, the couple got married. Mary graduated the following spring but delayed going on active duty until 2001 because of the birth of Faith. Their first assignment as a couple: Fort Stewart, Georgia. "We loved it," said Mary. "We lived 15 minutes from the beach." Joel's goal at that time was to get into the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, stationed at Hunter Army Airfield. "We studied together for months," said Mary. "The selection process is tough. One of the problems was that he wasn't that strong a swimmer. And I am. So we worked together to make him stronger. And he dedicated himself to getting better. He was a perfectionist in everything he did." Saying goodbye As a member of the 1-75, Cahill was deployed to Afghanistan in 2002, then to Iraq for the 2003 invasion. One of his squads helped in the rescue of Pvt. Jessica Lynch, who was held captive during the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom I. While Cahill served with the Rangers, even extending for a year, Mary, also holding the rank of captain, worked in the operating room at Fort Stewart's Winn Army Hospital. They came to Fort Benning in 2004, Joel for the advanced captains' course, Mary to work at Martin Army Community Hospital. Upon completion of his course, Joel joined Salazar's staff as a deputy operations officer and was named Baker Company commander on Aug. 29, 2005. Shortly after moving to Forward Operating Base Wilson, home of the 1-15, Cahill was involved in a vehicle rollover. Though unhurt, he quickly e-mailed Mary, fearing that other wives might tell her of the incident. "If it was up to him, he'd have kept that news to himself," she said. On the day he was killed, Cahill and several soldiers had completed a mission and were headed home when their Humvee was rocked by a roadside bomb. A memorial service was held days later at FOB Wilson, one attended by more than 60 3rd Brigade officers who flew from Baqouba aboard two giant Chinook helicopters. Cahill was buried a week later at Arlington, not terribly far from the final resting place of Audie Murphy. 2 A military horse-drawn caisson carrying the body of Army Capt. Joel Cahill makes its  way through  Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, November 18, 2005 Major General Howard Bromberg, left, salutes Barbara Cahill, the mother of Army Captain Joel  Cahill, right, after presenting her with a flag as Cahill's widow, Mary, center,  holds his 4-year-old daugher, Faith,during burial services at Arlington National  Cemetery Friday, November 18, 2005            Photos & Valentine's Day Remembrance By Holly February 2006 Webmaster: Michael Robert Patterson Posted: 8 November 2005  Updated: 19 November 2005 Updated: 11 February 2006 Updated: 4 March 2006 Updated: 29 March 2006 Updated: 13 May 2008

Ga. Captain Remembered As a Committed Father

A procession arrives for the Arlington funeral of Army Capt. Joel E. Cahill, killed Nov. 6 in Iraq. (By Lois Raimondo -- The Washington Post)

Washington Post Staff Writer

Yesterday, a cold, bright autumn day, 4-year-old Faith Cahill, bundled in a white hat and shiny black patent leather shoes, climbed onto her weeping mother's lap. Red and gold leaves floated down and lay on the grass of Arlington National Cemetery.

She watched from the front row as six somber soldiers folded the U.S. flag that had draped the shiny silver coffin of her father, Army Capt. Joel E. Cahill, 34, who was killed in Iraq on Nov. 6. He was on his fourth overseas tour -- after two in Afghanistan and one previous tour in Iraq. He had been gone for most of her life. He was supposed to be home for good in January.

A military band slowly played "America the Beautiful." Maj. Gen. Howard B. Bromberg took the flag in his crisp, white-gloved hands and held it out to her mother, Mary. Faith reached out for it with her little white-mittened hands.

A child giggled.

They say that very young children such as Faith and her sister, Brenna, 3, experience death at least twice -- the first time, as at yesterday's funeral, uncomprehendingly. The children don't understand the words the chaplain said , including "forever," "rest in peace" and "ashes to ashes."

When they are older, maybe 8 or 9, they will realize that death isn't like what they see in cartoons. They will understand that a roadside bomb killed their father as he rode in the passenger seat of a Humvee, near the town of Dawr, about 85 miles north of Baghdad, and that unlike a cartoon character, he can't put himself back together again. It will hit that he really won't be coming home. And they will grieve.

They will have photographs and a box of medals that he was awarded in his 15 years in the Army -- the Bronze Star for valor, the Soldier's Medal and the Purple Heart. And they will have the memories of others.

Perhaps someone will tell them that their father defied Army tradition and that at monthly gatherings at Fort Benning -- not far from his home in Columbus, Ga. -- when everyone was expected to leave children with babysitters, he organized a rebellion among young officers.

"I remember him coming in, holding an adorable little girl in his arms, and another one holding his hand," his friend Maj. Steve Warren said from Iraq. "He just said: 'I decided to bring the girls. Every minute counts.' "

Cahill was born in Norwood, Mass., and later moved to Nebraska. He joined the Army out of high school and received an ROTC officer's commission while at the University of Nebraska.

Cahill was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, the division in which Audie Murphy, the most decorated veteran of World War II, served.

On Cahill's first tour, one of his squads helped support the rescue of Pfc. Jessica Lynch. He had recently taken command of Bravo Company. His death hit hard, said Warren, the brigade's public affairs officer.

"We were devastated. There was an absolute dark cloud over this base for probably a week," he said. They flew two Chinook helicopters with more than 60 high-ranking officers to another base for his memorial.

"We were taking some risks, but he commanded such respect . . . you've got to accept some risks," Warren said.

At the funeral, as Cahill's coffin was lowered from the clattering horse-drawn caisson, Brenna, standing in the front row, turned away. Standing tiptoe, she stretched her arms overhead. Her mother lifted her, and the little girl laid her head on her shoulder.

Marine Lance Cpl. Nickolas D. Schiavoni

11.15.2005

Schiavoni, 26, of Haverhill, Mass., and the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C., died Nov. 15 from a suicide-vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Karmah, Iraq. His mother lives in Westerly.

US Marine Lance Corporal Nickolas David Schiavoni, 26, of Haverhill

      "He was much more of a caller," his mother said. "He was a man of few words. When he'd call, he'd always say, 'Don't worry, don't worry.' He'd always be upbeat, but then he'd tell me 'It's awful.' He knew I could handle the truth. He was supposed to come home in February."




2006

Sgt. Alberto D. Montrond



Hometown: Suffolk, Massachusetts, U.S.

Age: 27 years old

Died: February 13, 2006 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Unit: Army, Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during combat operations in Deh Rawod, Afghanistan.

Army Sgt. Alberto D. Montrond

27, of Suffolk, Mass.; assigned to Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; killed Feb. 13 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations north of Deh Rawod, Afghanistan. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Chad A. Gonsalves; Staff Sgt. Edwin H. Dazachacon and Staff Sgt. Clinton T. Newman.

N.C.-based soldier killed by land mine in Afghanistan

BOSTON — A U.S. soldier who immigrated to the United States from Cape Verde in 1996 and attended high school in Boston was killed in Afghanistan, the Defense Department said Friday.

Sgt. Alberto D. Montrand Jr., 27, who was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., was killed Monday when the vehicle carrying him and two other soldiers hit a land mine during combat operations, according to a military news release.

Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Chad A. Gonsalves, 31, of Turlock, Calif., and Staff Sgt. Edwin H. Dazachacon, 38, of Belleville, Ill. Gonsalves and Dazachacon were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, at Fort Bragg. Montrand was assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, also at Fort Bragg.

The Defense Department said a fourth soldier was also killed in the incident north of Deh Rawod, Afghanistan, but didn’t say how he was involved. Staff Sgt. Clinton T. Newman, 26, of San Antonio, was assigned to the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade at San Antonio.

Montrand leaves his wife, Krystal, and their two young children, Nazereah and Kevyn.

“(Alberto) had finished his first term, but he re-enlisted because he felt he had a duty to serve the country,” Alberto Montrand, a cousin, told the Boston Herald.

He recently had sat down with his father, Alberto Montrand Sr., to discuss his future, and expressed a great desire to stay in the Army, the father said. He re-enlisted last December.

While attending Madison Park High School in Boston, he was enrolled in the school’s ROTC program.

Montrand will be buried in North Carolina, family members said. His parents plan to fly there for the funeral.

— Associated Press

Alberto D. Montrond Sergeant, United States Army

NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense No. 144-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb 17, 2006 Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000 Public/Industry(703)428-0711 DoD Identifies Army Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died north of Deh Rawod, Afghanistan, on February 13, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during combat operations.             Killed were: Sergeant First Class Chad A. Gonsalves, 31, of Turlock, California. Gonsalves was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Staff Sergeant Edwin H. Dazachacon, 38, of Belleville, Illinois. Dazachacon was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Staff Sergeant Clinton T. Newman, 26, of San Antonio, Texas. Newman was assigned to the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade, San Antonio, Texas. Sergeant Alberto D. Montrond, 27, of Suffolk, Massachusetts. Montrond was assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000. Sergeant Alberto D. Montrond, 27, a Soldier assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died February 13, 2006, when an Improvised Explosive Devise detonated near his Humvee north of Deh Rawod in central Afghanistan. A resident of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Montrond enlisted in the Army in July 1998 as a quartermaster and chemical equipment repairer. After completing his specialty and airborne training, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with the 307th Forward Support Battalion, 82nd Division Support Command, 82nd Airborne Division. In June 2002, Montrond was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to the 528th Special Operations Support Battalion (Airborne), U.S. Army Special Operations Support Command. Two years later, he was assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th SFG (A), where he served until his death. Montrond’s military education includes the Primary Leadership Development Course and Basic Airborne Course. His awards and decorations included the Bronze Star for valor, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3), the Army Achievement Medal (4), the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badges. He was posthumously awarded include the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and theCombat Action Badge. He is survived by his wife Christl and his children Nazeraeh and Kevyn of Fayetteville, North Carolina. His parents, Alberto and Maria Montrond of the Republic of Cape Verde, also survive him. February 17, 2006: U.S. soldier who emigrated to the United States from Cape Verde in 1996 and attended high school in Boston was killed in Afghanistan, the Defense Department said Friday.  Sergeant Alberto D. Montrond Jr., 27, who was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was killed Monday when the vehicle carrying him and three other soldiers hit a land mine during combat operations north of Deh Rawod, Afghanistan, according to a military news release. Also killed were Sergeant First Class Chad A. Gonsalves, 31, of Turlock, California; Staff Sgt. Edwin H. Dazachacon, 38, of Belleville, Illinois; and Staff Sergeant Clinton T. Newman, 26, of San Antonio, Texas. Gonsalves and Dazachacon were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, at Fort Bragg. Montrond was assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, also at Fort Bragg, and Newman was assigned to the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade in San Antonio. Montrond leaves his wife, Krystal, and their two young children, Nazereah and Kevyn. "(Alberto) had finished his first term, but he re-enlisted because he felt he had a duty to serve the country," Alberto Montrond, a cousin, told the Boston Herald. He recently had sat down with his father, Alberto Montrond Sr., to discuss his future, and expressed a great desire to stay in the Army, the father said. He re-enlisted last December. While attending Madison Park High School in Boston, he was enrolled in the school's ROTC program. Montrond will be buried in North Carolina, family members said. His parents plan to fly there for the funeral. MONTROND, ALBERTO D SGT   US ARMY DATE OF BIRTH: 04/22/1978 DATE OF DEATH: 02/13/2006 BURIED AT: SECTION 60  SITE 8452 ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY Webmaster: Michael Robert Patterson Posted:  11 March 2007 Updated: 14 April 2007

Photo Courtesy of Holly, April 2007

Cpl. Scott J. Procopio



Hometown: Saugus, Massachusetts, U.S.

Age: 20 years old

Died: April 2, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Marines, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Incident: Killed while conducting combat operations in Anbar Province.

Scott J. Procopio

Of the Third Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment, killed in action in Iraq on April 2. Beloved husband of Kristal (Cerbone) Procopio. Cherished son of Kevin and Mary (Shutt) Procopio of Saugus. Dear brother of Michael, Mark and Greg Procopio, all of Saugus. Loving grandson of Frances (Brescia) Procopio of Saugus and the late S. Joseph Procopio, Marta (Cline) Shutt of AR and the late Albert Shutt. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins. A Funeral Service will be held in the Veterans Memorial School, Hurd Ave., Saugus on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be on Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial School. Burial will follow with full military honors in Riverside Cemetery, Saugus.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Cpl. Scott J. Procopio Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Saugus Bank, P.O. Box 988, Saugus, MA 01906. For obituary www.bisbeeporcella.com. Arrangements by the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, SAUGUS, MA.

Published in The Boston Globe on April 9, 2006
Video: A fitting honor for Cpl. Scott Procopio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcauzM4UIlw

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