This is just awful.
If any of you were following the race for the open seat in PA-05 last fall, either in my diaries, or otherwise, Bill Cahir's name will be familiar to you. He was one of three very strong candidates who ran for the Democratic nomination here in this R+10 district. The nomination went to another candidate, and the district eventually went to the Republican candidate.
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Bill Cahir, 40, was killed in combat in Afghanistan yesterday. This is a great loss to America.
Some links to visit:
Report in The Centre Daily Times - Bill's hometown newspaper
Breaking report from the Express-Times, where Cahir worked as a correspondent for many years.
Story in Politico.
Hardball segment about Bill
More about this hero on the flip . .
Cahir grew up in Bellefonte, PA. Prior to running for office, he was a Washington correspondent for Easton, PA's Express-Times newspaper. More on his background:
Before his career in journalism, which included writing for the Lebanon Daily News, Hanover Evening Sun, York Dispatch and newspapers in New Jersey and New York, Cahir worked as a staff assistant to Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee from 1990 to 1993, and as a staff assistant on health care issues for former U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford, D-Pa., from August 1993 until he left office in January 1995.
He was part of Sen. Edward Kennedy's, D-Mass., labor and economic policy team that helped pass the Family and Medical Leave Act and other laws.
Motivated by the 9-11 attacks, Bill Cahir joined the Marines at the age of 34, even acquiring an age waiver to do so. He wrote about going through basic training with people half his age for the Express-Times in 2004.
More on his military career:
(Cahir) served two tours in Iraq and has been decorated for his service in combat and was recently honored as the non-commissioned officer of the year by the 4th Civil Affairs Group.
He served in Ramadi and Fallujah from August 2004-March 2005 and again in Fallujah from September 2006-April 2007, when he was the lead turret gunner for a civil affairs team working with Iraqis and engaging tribal sheiks.
He was sent to Afghanistan in the Spring of this year and was serving in the Helmand River Valley when he was killed.
He is survived by his wife, Rene Browne, who is expecting twin girls.
I could go on and on about how great this guy was. Please visit the links to read more about this incredible, heroic American.
I'll update with memorial details when they are available.
Update: A touching account of Bill's decision to join the Marines.
Update: Local TV report with video
Update: Military officials confirm his death, decorations detailed
Update: Another article with more pictures, some of them taken by Cahir himself
Update: Mark McCracken's comments on this tragedy.
FINAL UPDATE: Details on Bill Cahir's burial and the memorial fund set up to help his wife and unborn daughters.
The Bill Cahir Memorial Fund has been established for the education and wellbeing of Rene and Bill’s children, family spokesman David Price said. Checks should be made payable to the "Bill Cahir Memorial Fund" at this address: Burke and Herbert Bank c/o Mark Ragland P.O. Box 268 Alexandria, VA 22313
They now have a website for online donations too.
Update: Adding this as advised in comments. Sorry it's a little late.
I Got the News Today (IGTNT) is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, greenies, blue jersey mom, chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, and JeNoCo.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.