Remembering the Brave
Thanks to Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler for his posting, Rest in Peace, Proud Warrior, based on an inspiring article from November, 2005 by reporter Jim Sheeler and photographer Todd Heisler in the Rocky Mountain News. This is the story of Marine Corps Lt. Jim Cathey, who gave his life in Iraq trying to bring peace to the country. “Cat,” as he was known to his friends, was promoted to Sergeant at age 19, then enrolled in an elite scholarship program at the University of Colorado for enlisted men to become officers. He graduated with honors in anthropology and history. Upon his commissioning as an officer, Lt. Cathey was assigned to lead a unit on active duty in Iraq.
NOTIYING RELATIVES
“Each door is different. But once they’re open, Beck said, some of the scenes inside are inevitably the same. ‘The curtains pull away. They come to the door. And they know. They always know,’ he said.’”
This is also the story of Major Steve Beck, who has the sad honor of informing families that their child or spouse or parent has died in the line of service.
When he first donned the Marine uniform, Beck had never heard the term “Casualty Assistance Calls Officer.” He certainly never expected to serve as one.
As it turned out, it would become the most important mission of his life.
Each door is different. But once they’re open, Beck said, some of the scenes inside are inevitably the same.
“The curtains pull away. They come to the door. And they know. They always know,” he said.
“You can almost see the blood run out of their body and their heart hit the floor. It’s not the blood as much as their soul. Something sinks. I’ve never seen that except when someone dies. And I’ve seen a lot of death.
“They’re falling - either literally or figuratively - and you have to catch them.
“In this business, I can’t save his life. All I can do is catch the family while they’re falling.”
Never leave a Marine behind. That’s a tradition dating back 230 years that is implanted inside every Marine at boot camp. That sometimes means that Marines get killed while retrieving another Marine’s body. The tradition requires that a fallen Marine must be guarded by another Marine anytime the body is accessible to a member of the public.
According to the Department of Defense, Cathey was killed in Al Karmah, Iraq, on Aug. 21. Members of his unit later told family members that Cathey was leading the search of an abandoned building when a booby-trapped door exploded. The explosion was so fierce it blew off an arm and leg of the Marine directly behind Cathey. That man, now in recovery, credits his lieutenant with saving his life.
Major Beck has a task that most of would find too difficult to handle emotionally.
Before leaving on his first notification, Beck asked for advice from two men in another branch of the service.
“One of the first things they said was, ‘Don’t embrace them. If they embrace you, keep your distance,’” he said, shaking his head.
“I didn’t have much use for them.”
Beck now holds a ceremony for each fallen Marine called “Remembering the Brave” where he personally presents medals to the Marine’s family.
“It’s not a trade, but in the minds of the mothers, I wonder if they think it is a trade, and that they’re thinking, ‘I don’t want this medal. I want my son,’” he said.
“The only way I can dispel that is through something like this. By showing them the honor. By honoring their son.”
“Lt. Cathey was a brave man who served his country honorably. He left behind his parents, a 9-year old son, and a pregnant wife, Katherine. Like the other 2,378 Americans who have lost their lives in the war on terror so far, his name will live on forever.”After the lights dimmed in the ballroom, more than 500 people fell silent.
“You are about to hear the descriptions of individual acts of courage,” Beck said. “Listen closely.
“Listen. Closely.”
For nearly an hour, they heard detailed accounts of rocket-propelled grenade attacks and improvised explosive devices, of ambushes and assaults - each with the same ending.
Slowly, methodically, the Marines brought out the medals and citations and kneeled before a mother or father they had first met on a doorstep. For each family, the Marines also presented a vase of yellow roses, one rose for every year of the Marine’s life.
Lt. Cathey was a brave man who served his country honorably. He left behind his parents, a 9-year old son, and a pregnant wife, Katherine. Like the other 2,378 Americans who have lost their lives in the war on terror so far, his name will live on forever.
We live in peace and safety because of the sacrifice of the men and women who serve in the armed forces. Do we appreciate their sacrifice enough? No, mostly we don’t. But the next time you hear of another death in Iraq, or anywhere else for that matter, think of Lt. Jim Cathey and Major Steve Beck. Think of the devastated families left behind, never to see their child, their husband or wife, or their mommy or daddy again.
The night before the burial of her husband’s body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of ‘Cat,’ and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. “I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,” she said. “I think that’s what he would have wanted.”
linked with Showcase Carnival~Honor~Country~Family
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» Showcase Carnival~Honor~Country~Family from
I cannot think of words that evoke stronger feelings than: God, Country, Family, and honor. Today’s Carnival entries do, Thank you for your submissions.
The first submission today deals with Marines. Michael from Stingrayshares with us “Remem... [Read More]
» Showcase Carnival~Honor~Country~Family from
I cannot think of words that evoke stronger feelings than: God, Country, Family, and honor. Today’s Carnival entries do, Thank you for your submissions.
The first submission today deals with Marines. Michael from Stingrayshares with us “Remem... [Read More]
Comments
Thank you for writing this piece, Michael..
I am working on the carnival and .. well I had to take a break, because tears were pouring down ..
Pet Campbell
Posted by: Pet Campbell | April 24, 2006 04:41 PM
Thank you for writing this piece, Michael..
I am working on the carnival and .. well I had to take a break, because tears were pouring down ..
Pet Campbell
Posted by: Pet Campbell | April 24, 2006 04:41 PM
Well done! However, you've drawn me in but for one correction. Jim's 9 yr old is a daughter (Casey). His son “Jimmy” was born Dec 22nd 2005. Thank you in advance for correcting an error that could disenfranchise a little girl who will truly come to know her father through our insistence that he and his sacrifice never be forgotten.
Semper Fi!
Major Stephen Beck
Posted by: Steve Beck | May 9, 2006 11:52 PM