Find the Cost of Freedom;"He's finally home..."

Deseret Morning News ^ | April 7,2003 | Joe Bauman

[redrock]

He's finally home: Soldier's remains arrive in Salt Lake

By Joe Bauman
Deseret News staff writer

A hero came home Sunday night.

Staff Sgt. James Cawley's casket was draped with an American flag and carried by an honor guard of four Marines and four Salt Lake police officers, representing the organizations he had served. Closely following the casket as they crossed the rotunda of the Salt Lake Airport's International Terminal were Cawley's widow, Miyuki, and their children, Cecil, 8, and Keiko, 6.

About 60 family members and friends, plus more than a dozen police officers with black tape across their badges, followed. They walked through the terminal, outside and to a hearse waiting at the curb. The honor guard saluted as the casket was lifted in, while relatives and friends stood at the terminal doors, some gripping flags, some crying openly.

Family members walked to vans behind the hearse. Then, with police car flashers blinking, the small cortege drove into the night, heading for a mortuary in Roy.

Cawley, 41, was a reservist with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Regiment Marines. On March 29 he was killed during a firefight near Nasiriyah, Iraq, when a coalition forces' Humvee struck him. In civilian life he was a Salt Lake police officer who served on the gang unit and the SWAT team.

REST of article HERE

6-year-old Keiko Cawley grieves for her slain father.

[redrock]

When I opened the newspaper today....I immediately was drawn to the picture of Sgt. Cawley's daughter......

...and promptly broke down.

Everyone I have shown this picture to today...has broken down into tears.

redrock

[redrock]

BUMP.....

redrock

[redrock]

BUMP...

redrock

[redrock]

BUMP....

redrock

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

I know what your saying I was at a bar on saturday night and the local news came on there was no sound but I could tell it was coverage of a local funeral for a fallen soldier and I watched as these old WWII vets were his pallbearers and as the old guard saluted this young hero's casket I got all choked up.

[cubreporter]

Just saw it above your post. How heartbreaking is that? Tears and prayers for this family and may the soul of this brave man rest in peace forever.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Everyone I have shown this picture to today...has broken down into tears."

Add me to the list Brother.
May God Welcome him Home and comfort his family and friends.

[First_Salute]

Thanks you, sir.

[DeSoto]

Thanks for the flag rr, I appreciate it. There are so many victims of war, but the children are the hardest for me to deal with. This little girl's plight is heart breaking, but she will know that for the rest of her life that her father died a hero, it won't make up for the loss but it will be some consolation.

I woke up the other night with this picture going through my head, I have had trouble shaking it ever since. The caption that came with it said "An Iraqi man comforts his 4-year-old son at a regroupment center for POWs of the 101st Airborne Division near An Najaf, Iraq, on March 31. The man was seized in An Najaf with his son and the U.S. military did not want to separate father and son."

Children on both sides of this war are hurting, I have no sympathy for the father but his son breaks my heart. It is kinda like the feelings I had for Elian all over again.

[alfa6]

Semper Fi Staff Sgt. Cawley

With Deepest sympathy for the Cawley family,

Utmost Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[IncPen]

All give some, some give all

Deepest sympathy and respect bump.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The words "From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants" does little good to comfort the families who must make the ultimate sacrifice. But the words still ring true. The blood that this soldier spilled in Iraq freeing those people made us all a little more free.

[tiki]

I've cried a lot recently. This is no exception.

[redrock]

The picture of Sgt. Cawley's little girl was on the front page....and,of course, my little girls wanted to know why she looked so sad......

It took me over an hour to explain it to them.

But,in the end, I think they understood.

redrock

[AuntB]

Well, Redrock, I can always count on you for a good cry! Hell of a price some of these brave people and their children are paying. I hope they know some of us appreciate them all.

Hope all is well with you and yours. I'm getting ready to move...a new adventure!!

[William Wallace]

Thanks for posting this.

May God comfort the Cawley family in their grief. May his little girl find solace in the knowledge that her father died so that others might live in freedom.