Dear George and Dick,
I apologize (not really, you don't deserve my apologies) for the familiarity, but I don't call the people responsible for my son's death: Mr, or Sir, nor do I have any respect for the offices that you have defiled. The only thing you both mean to me is pain and devastation. George and Dick, you are both shameful cowards who are sending our brave young people to die to make yourselves and your buddies unbelievably and fabulously wealthy. Neither of you have any idea of the true human, sorrowful cost of war nor do you care that you are ruining lives by the thousands and thousands. You both disgust me beyond belief. You are not, never have been, and never will be my President or Vice President.
This is what your irresponsible and reckless policies took from me: One year and four days ago my son, Casey Sheehan, was one of the consequences of your lies and betrayals. One of the tens of thousands that your arrogant, pre-emptive, imperialistic policies have killed. I don't know how any of you can sleep at night...I know I can't.
I have wanted to write this letter for over a year.
We know the intelligence leading to the war was "dead" wrong and gleaned from a known liar (your administration likes liars...familiarity, and all), so I have a question for you...
WHY ARE AMERICANS AND IRAQI'S STILL DYING EVERYDAY?
Then, George and Dick...you both go around spewing the lying filth that "freedom is on the march in Iraq." Well, I have a challenge for both of you: if you believe in freedom so much in Iraq..then send your own children over there to fight and perhaps die in the occupation without the proper training, equipment, food, water, supplies, armor, or protection. If you aren't willing to send your own children to die for this most grievous bull-crap THEN BRING THE REST OF OUR CHILDREN HOME...NOW!!! The definition of a just war is one that you are willing to have your own children die for. Apply the definition. Then send your own children if you believe this aggression is just...if not THEN BRING THE REST OF OUR CHILDREN HOME...NOW!!!
Do the right thing and BRING OUR TROOPS HOME, NOW!! Not one more drop of blood, not one more penny for this travesty. Do not let our other children be killed for the ephemeral and ever changing "Mission." My son's death will have meaning and not be in vain if it is for peace: if our troops are withdrawn immediately from this abomination that is Iraq.
I dare both of you to do the honorable thing and read about my son...my first-born...my pride and joy...my love...I wish you would read it and weep, but I know neither of you give one flying flip about me, my family or Casey.
I pray that either one of you, or both of you, grow a vestigial conscience and pray for forgiveness for the killing that your ignorance and arrogance have caused. One time I ran over a kitten and killed it and I was devastated for days...how do either one of you look at yourselves in the mirror? How do you live with the fact that so many innocent people are dead because of your beliefs and actions? I know I couldn't. I know I would have a hard time living with myself if I was responsible for one death, let alone legions of deaths. I really hope someone grows some courage in the House of Representatives and you both are impeached soon.
Again, I reiterate. Celebrate the new found "Culture of Life" in your hypocritical administration. BRING OUR TROOPS HOME. NOW!!!
Do I sound angry? You better believe I am. My son's future was robbed from him. My future with my son is now gone. I never even got to say good bye to him.
If you have any questions, or would like to hear anymore of my ideas, please feel free to contact me.
Peace,
Cindy Sheehan
Casey's Story
By: Cindy Sheehan
My son, Casey Austin Sheehan, was born on May 29, 1979. After a long labor, he was born on Memorial Day. I would look into his eyes and see a depth of wisdom there from the time he was born. He was born with an "old soul." As a proud mom, I knew, and I would tell everyone who would listen to me, that he was going to be a great man. I was right. I just didn't realize how great he was going to be ... or how much his moment of greatness was going to hurt me.
Casey was a very goodbaby. From the time he was about 7 months old and had gone into his own room, he would wake up in the morning and talk to himself and play with his crib gym. His dad and I would lie in our room and listen to him play. When he learned to walk, he would come up behind me when I would be doing the dishes and he would throw his arms around my legs, kiss me on the butt, and say: "I wuv you mama." He had a little teddy bear that he called "Bear." He ate all the fur off of it and he ate all the fuzz from the inside of it. He wouldn't go to bed without it though. I still have his bear and it is now sitting on the shelf by the flag that was draped over his coffin.
Casey was our first born. We had three more children after him. Carly, Andy, and Janey. Their dad, my husband Pat, made our family of six complete. We did everything together. The kids went to Catholic school together. Even when one of us would want a frozen yogurt, we would all pile into "Vanna White," our white Chevy Astro Van, and we would go to Bellflower, to Yogurt Lee, together. There was no such thing as one of us going and bringing yogurt home for everybody. We all just went.
On most Friday nights, we would have "Chicks and Dudes" night. After a long week of work, school, and other activities, we would go out to dinner. Usually at Chris and Pitts in Bellflower, where you could get a good and filling bar-be-que dinner for about 25 dollars for our entire family of six. Anyway, we would go home and watch TGIF on ABC. Full House and the show that Steve Urkel was on were among the shows on TGIF. The "Chicks:" me, Carly, and Janey, would go in the parent's room to watch TGIF; the "Dudes:" Pat, Casey, and Andy, would stay in the living room and watch the shows. The kids still remember those nights fondly. The boys having some quality time with their dad and the girls doing the same with their mom.
Casey was always a good boy. He could play for hours by himself. He loved Nintendo, G.I. Joes, World Wrestling Federation, baseball (especially the Dodgers), his church and God. He joined Cub Scouts when he was in 1st grade and he eventually earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He became an altar boy when he was 8 and he continued serving his church for the rest of his life. He loved to act and was in the International Thespian Society when he was in high school. Before he joined the Army, he earned an A.A. degree in drama. He was a reporter for his college newspaper. He never talked back to his dad or me. He rarely fought with his brother and sisters. He loved our animals and he loved little children.
Everyone assumed Casey was going to be a priest, because he was so faithful to God and to the church. He never missed mass, even when he went into the Army. If he was on post, he went to mass. He served his church in every capacity that a lay person can. He also was very involved with the youth ministry of our parish, especially when I was the Youth Minister. Even after he graduated from high school, he stayed active in the ministry, helping me as a young adult leader. Casey confided in me, though, that he wanted to get married and have children. He hoped one day to be a permanent Deacon in the church. Deacons can get married and serve the church in various ways. Casey also confided to me that he was a virgin and he wanted to save himself and give his virginity to his wife as a wedding present. He took lots of heat for that in the Army. Pat and I always wondered why he would even tell anyone he was still a virgin, but he did. His buddies would say: "Sheehan, you gotta get laid." He would just say: "Naw, that's okay."
Casey was such a good Christian and good Catholic, that when his chapel on Ft. Hood started a new Knights of Columbus Council, they named it the "Spc. Casey Austin Sheehan Council." The brother Knights told Pat and me that he embodied everything that they want to stand for: Love of God, Country, Family, Church, and Service. Pat and I were honored that they would name their Council after Casey. Casey's name and what he stood for will always be remembered on Ft. Hood. The Knights were going to name their new Council after a Priest who had served there for quite awhile, but after they heard about Casey's heroic sacrifice they decided to name the Council after him. They all voted unanimously to do this.
In the beginning of this essay, I told you the day Casey was born, but I bet you have guessed from the body of the essay that Casey is no longer with us. Casey joined the Army in May, 2000. His recruiter told him that he would be able to finish college, be a Chaplain's Assistant, receive a $20,000 signing bonus, and most insidiously and heartbreakingly, that he would never see combat. Casey scored so high on the ASVAB (military competency test) that he would only be in a support role and he would never be in a battle. Well, every promise that Casey's recruiter made to him, he broke. The only promise that I care about, though, is the one where Casey would never see battle.
Casey's division, the First Cavalry Division, out of Ft. Hood, was sent to Iraq in March, 2004. He called home once from Kuwait on March 14th. He said he was hot, they had been busy getting ready to convoy to Baghdad, and he was on his way to Mass (naturally). His company, Charlie Battery, convoyed peacefully to Baghdad and reached their post F.O.B. War Eagle in Sadr City on March 19th. On April 4th, Palm Sunday, we got the word that Casey had been killed in an ambush. The first chance he got, my brave, wonderful, faithful, sweet, gentle and kind boy volunteered for a rescue mission as a Combat Life Saver. He was a Humvee mechanic who never should have gone on a mission like that. Casey and 20 of his buddies were sent into a raging insurgent uprising to rescue wounded soldiers. Only 13 of them returned. Casey was riding in the back of a trailer with no protection when they were ambushed. He was killed within minutes of the ambush. He was able to return fire and buy some time for his unit. His actions that day saved lives. Casey is a hero who belongs to history now, but I wish he were a living breathing coward. So I could still talk to him, e-mail him, send him care packages, Christmas Presents, hug him and never let go when he got back from War.
This war has devastated my family, but especially me. My sweet boy who never passed up a chance to kiss my behind and tell me he "wuvs" me is gone forever. God, I hope this war ends before other mothers have to go through this. I hope that our planet and world survives four more years of the lies and betrayals of this president. Eventually, this war will end, as all wars end. This president will either bumble through four more years, or he will do something so egregious that he will be impeached. But when this nightmare is over for the world, it will go on for me. Forever, and ever, without end. Amen.
