Soldier Honored: Casey E. Howe

Sergeant First Class (SFC) Casey Howe, 32, was assigned to the 3^rd Battalion, 314^th Field Artillery Regiment, 2^nd Brigade, 78^th Division, Fort Drum N.Y., was on his second tour of duty in Iraq.  A 14-year Army veteran, SFC Howe was part of a convoy headed to join an Iraqi contingent during combat operations near Rustimayah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee.  SFC Howe and one other soldier lost their lives while a third, unidentified soldier, was seriously injured.

A graduate of Cass City High School, SFC Howe enjoyed camping, playing horseshoes, fishing and hunting.  He was a 4-year member of the high school wrestling team and was team captain his senior year.  “He was the type of person you could really enjoy being around,” said his wrestling coach, Donald Markel.  “He’d give everything he had when he walked out onto the mat!”  SFC Howe’s father said his son questioned why he was sent back to Iraq the second time, but he also said his son loved being in the military.

SFC Howe is survived by his wife and four children, one of which is a Folds of Honor Higher Education Scholarship recipient