Name: Army Spc. Patrick R. McCaffrey Sr. Age: 34 From: Tracy, Calif. Assigned to the 579th Engineer Battalion, Army National Guard, Petaluma, Calif. Incident: Army Spc. Patrick R. McCaffrey Sr. was killed June 22 when enemy forces ambushed his ground patrol in Balad, Iraq. Died:
June
22, 2004 California National Guard soldier killed in Iraq
Associated Press
TRACY, Calif. Patrick McCaffrey joined the National Guard in the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because, family members said, he wanted to make a difference.
But McCaffrey had become disillusioned with his mission before his death Tuesday in an ambush in Iraq.
McCaffrey and fellow Guard member 2nd Lt. Andre Tyson were killed near the city of Balad, located 85 miles north of Baghdad, according to a California National Guard news release Wednesday.
Both were in Alpha Company, 579th Engineer Battalion, based in Petaluma.
McCaffrey, a 34-year-old Army specialist from Tracy, was a manager with a collision repair company in the...
Prayers & Condolences For: Patrick R McCaffrey Sr BY Anonymous on Aug 16, 2009
What is a Hero?A man that gives himself at all times without questions
A man that takes the heavy load when no one else can
A man that makes every one around him feel special and important
A man everyone is proud to have known
A man that loves his family and thinks of them always
A man that runs to the aid of a fallen soldier
A man that is loved and respected by all that he meets
A man that is stronger than life itself
A man that no one will ever forget
A true Hero is Sergeant Patrick McCaffrey
Jeannette Sarla
Prayers & Condolences For: Patrick R McCaffrey Sr BY Anonymous on Aug 16, 2009
I Am PROUD to Have Known You
From Dan NevinsFriend & Brother in ArmsMy Brother,we didn't talk much while serving together, but when we
did, there was always substance and the more I got to
know who you were at your core the more I respected you.
I would have loved to have you in my squad as I am sure
every squad leader would have. You always went above
and beyond and that is a testimony to what a great person
you were. I want to tell you that I feel that your sacrifice,
though tragic and untimely, was not in vain and history
will tell the tale much differently than it is in the present.
So, as you look down on the rest of us, I hope that you will
understand that. At least that is the way I feel.You left too early to know, but on 10 Nov 2004, when
another of our brothers (SFC Mike Ottolini) paid the
ultimate sacrifice, I was severely injured in the same
explosion. I lost my left leg in the explosion and after 27
surgeries, after being evacuated to Walter Reed they were
able to save my right leg. Now, three years later, I am back
at Walter Reed having the right leg amputated. It was just
too much pain to deal with daily and the recurring bone
infections were "show stoppers". Now that I have had the
surgery on the 23rd of January 08, I feel much better, and
Hopefully I will be walking again soon.I know that we have made our sacrifices for a just and
good reason, and I am PROUD to have known you and
served with you. I will ALWAYS remember you, as well as
Andre and Mike, in addition to all of those who made it
home on their own power, but have their continuing
battles that go unseen.Again, Thank You for being the man who you were. I am
honored to have served in the same unit with you, in the
same Army, and for the Greatest Nation in the World, and
Proud to have fought with you as a brother in arms for a
cause that history will view as necessary and just. God
Bless you and yours.Your Brother,SSG (R) Dan Nevins
Prayers & Condolences For: Patrick R McCaffrey Sr BY Anonymous on Aug 16, 2009
"Nadia and Family, this message board is a wonderful thing. It has taken me awhile to truly put my thoughts together and memories to where I want to share of the love of a great friend. Patrick was one of my first friends and many who he knew later in his life may not have known him as I did when we were children. Patrick lived in the house behind my Grandma's in Sunnyvale on Roosevelt Street and always came to our family to share in with us and our parties, Christmas and Birthdays. Patrick and I would always play in Grandma's back bedroom with her multitude of thrift store toys that seemed like gold to us. We were friends, and the best kind of friends. Everytime My 2 Sisters Tammy and Wendy and my Cousin Kathy would be over Grandma would tell us to go into the back and get Patrick so he could join in the fun! Patrick always was a leader even as children, and so smart. He loved my Great Grandma and she loved him too. They always remembered Patrick at Chrsitmas with gifts, they loved him as their own. When Great Grandma died in March of 1985 Patrick and his Father Bob attended the funeral in San Jose and brought yellow roses, Great Grandma's favorite. He was always thoughtful and we have many happy memories of him in our childhood, always talented and speaking well of his Father and the many adventures traveling to see his Mother Nadia. He even gave me some Tahaitan Francs from one of his trips to which I still have and treasure to this day! He once had a yard sale and sold me a ventriliquist dummy to which at age 9 he wrote me out a receipt for the $7.00 I paid! He always knew how to take care and handle business, even as a child. I will always remember Patrick as a great childhood friend to which I share many memories and his dog LuLu!!!! His gentle Father Bob and beautiful Mother Nadia- My prayers are that God let him rest and that the world may know the sacrifice of this great person. My only goal is to continue to support Nadia in her efforts and Patrick's children in their future so they may know their Dad was a very awesome guy. My familys love to his."Mark Nelson of Sacramento, California
Prayers & Condolences For: Patrick R McCaffrey Sr BY Anonymous on Aug 16, 2009
"TO THE FAMILY OF PATRICK McCAFFREY,I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR SON BUT A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE DID: ANDRE TYSON.YOU SEE HE WAS ALSO KILLED ON THAT DAY AND I KNOW EVEN THOUGH PATRICK WAS HURT HE TRIED TO HELP MY GOOD FRIEND, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP A SON LIKE PATRICK.
THESE TWO SOLDIERS ARE TOGETHER NOW.
GOOD NIGHT PATRICK SLEEP WITH THE ANGELS.
THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO HELP ANDRE. MICHELLE"MICHELLE of LOS ANGELES, CA.
Prayers & Condolences For: Patrick R McCaffrey Sr BY Anonymous on Aug 16, 2009
TO THE MCCAFFREY FAMILYALL OUR PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU.THE DEVASTATION YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED CAN ONLY BE
KNOWN BY THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME.I DON'T KNOW THAT BUT I DO KNOW JUST HOW
DEVASTATING PATRICK'S DEATH IS.I AM THE MOTHER OF THE SOLDIER WHO DID ALL HE COULD
TO SAVE PATRICK'S LIFE.HE IS MOURNING PATRICK LIKE HE WAS HIS OWN BROTHER
AND WILL NEVER FORGET THE HERO IN PATRICK IN HIS
WORDS THE TRUE HERO'S ARE THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR ALL
AS PATRICK DID HE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTENSOLDIERS MOM of VIRGINIA BEACH
Prayers & Condolences For: Patrick R McCaffrey Sr BY John on Apr 09, 2008
May the grace of God, the love of Jesus, and the peace of the Holy Spirit be with you and your family forever.