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SSgt. James W. Cawley, U.S.M.C (KIA)
Deseret News editorial
The stark reality
of war hit home this past weekend when Utahns learned that Marine reservist and Salt Lake
City police officer James W. Cawley had been killed during a firefight near Nasiriyah,
Iraq, on Saturday. Cawley, a staff sergeant with Company F of the 2nd Battalion 23rd
Regiment Marines, was killed when he was struck by a coalition forces' Humvee as he sought
a secure position out of the line of enemy fire.
Not only has Utah lost a brave and dutiful Marine, Salt
Lake City has lost a police officer who had served in the department's gang unit and SWAT
team. Sgt. Cawley, 41, of Layton is survived by his wife, Miyuki, 8-year-old son Cecil and
6-year-old daughter Keiko.
The Deseret News joins all Utahns in expressing its deepest
sympathies to Sgt. Cawley's family and to his "extended family," members of the
Salt Lake Police Department. We are mindful of the great sacrifices of the men and women
in uniform, as well as the heavy price paid by their families.
According to the Pentagon and family members, 42 American
troops had died in Operation Iraqi Freedom as of Monday. Seven service men and women had
been captured and 17 are missing. Among the British troops, 25 are dead, but none have
been reported missing or captured.
Sgt. Cawley clearly understood the risks of military
service, as a service member himself and as the son of a veteran. This was reflected in a
letter to his children: "When I was a little boy aged 6, my dad, your Grandpa Cawley,
was sent to Vietnam during the war there. I remember how much I missed him. But being a
child, I didn't realize how hard it must have been on him, too."
As much as he loved his family, colleagues and family
members, Sgt. Cawley also deeply loved his country. "He had no hesitations about
going over. He was concerned for his family, but he was a Marine and believed in his
mission," said Salt Lake City police spokesman Sgt. Dave Hoffman.
We salute Sgt. Cawley and thank him for his service to our
country and, closer to home, his dedication to his family and the Salt Lake police force.