Fallen Soldier: Keith Callahan

Army Sgt. 1st Class, Keith A. Callahan, 31, of McClure, Pennsylvania, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He died on January 24th, 2007, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was conducting a combat patrol south of Baghdad. He had deliberately posted himself at a critical road crossing to act as an additional security element to ensure the safety of his platoon.
Sgt. 1st Class Callahan enlisted in the U.S. Army following high school. He completed bootcamp in Georgia, before being sent to Ft. Bennington for the Basic Airborne Course. He then reported to Ft. Bragg, where he won two boxing titles and earned the nickname “Bam-Bam” Callahan. He was on his fourth deployment to Iraq at the time of his passing.
Sgt. 1st Class Callahan’s wife, Dody, said her husband was a sports enthusiast who loved his children and family. He also treated his fellow soldiers as family, she said. “Keith loved his soldiers, and his dedication to duty lasted to the end. He gave his life to protect his soldiers. He would now want his soldiers to bravely forge ahead in his mission and continue his legacy.”
Sgt. 1st Class Callahan is survived by his wife, Dody, two sons, one daughter and one stepson.