LEST WE FORGET... BAY CITY, MI — From the moment he was a young boy, family members of Sgt. 1st Class Michael Cathcart say he was a soldier who carried his head high and made his loved ones feel protected. He was so kind to everyone and such a diligent young man, said Marlo Leveling, Cathcarts cousin. He made you feel safe. And that smile — it was incredible. The 31-year-old U.S. Army soldier who served two tours of duty in Iraq was killed Friday, Nov. 14, in Afghanistan, according to the Pentagon. He died of wounds received from a small arms fire during a dismounted combat operation in the Kunduz Province. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Cathcart is the first soldier from Bay City to die in combat following the 9/11 attacks, said Art Schupback, Bay Countys veterans service officer. In the coming weeks, his name is to be etched into the memorial wall outside of the Bay County Building, 515 Center Ave., in downtown Bay City, Schupback said. Sgt. Kristopher J. Gould, of Bay Countys Frankenlust Township, died in 2011 after his unit was attacked by insurgents with an improvised explosive device in the Ghazni province of Afghanistan. Bay City officials are awaiting word from state officials in Lansing on when to lower U.S. flags throughout the city to half-staff in memory of Cathcart. Michael Cathcart-3In this July 2012 photo, Sgt. Michael Cathcart poses with his sister Trishia and mother Jeanne. Cathcart was killed in action Friday, Nov. 14, during an operation in Afghanistan.Courtesy Photo Cathcart, a 2001 Bay City Central High School graduate, is the son of Jeanne Cathcart, a Bay City single mother who raised him and his sister Trishia, according to family members. The high school held a moment of silence for Cathcart on the morning of Monday, Nov. 17. He was the rock for the family, Leveling said. The oldest tends to take on more responsibility, and with a single mom, he did just that. He loved her so much and she was so proud of him. Funeral services are still being arranged. Cathcarts body arrived at Dover Air Force Base Monday and could stay there for up to 10 days, Jeanne Cathcart told The Times. Services will be held in Bay City and Fort Bragg. Cathcart joined the Army as a Fire Support Specialist less than two weeks after his high school graduation. Upon completion of Army Basic Combat and Advanced Individual Training, he reported to the 101st Airborne Division, better known as The Screaming Eagles, where he served for more than five years. In 2007, he volunteered for Special Forces and was assigned two years later to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group as a senior engineer sergeant. Lt. Col. Michael Sullivan, Cathcarts battalion commander, said in a statement that the unit lost one of our nations finest, adding that the soldier died a true warrior with his fellow teammates at his side. The Bushmen will always remember Mikes love for the hockey rink and his contagious smile, Sullivan said. His many awards include three Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart Medal and four Army Commendation Medals, according Sullivans statement. Hockey was Cathcarts passion, family members said. In February, he was invited to practice with the Carolina Hurricanes National Hockey League team at Fort Bragg. Ron Francis, executive vice president and general manager of the organization said the team is deeply saddened by the loss of Cathcart. People throw around the word hero too easily sometimes, but Mike Cathcart was a true hero. He proudly served our country and died protecting our safety and freedom. We are grateful for that day we were able to spend with him and the impact he left on our team. On behalf of the Hurricanes organization, I send heartfelt condolences to his family and his unit. Tom Counavelis, an information technology analyst at Duke University, took in the practice at Fort Bragg in February and was able to meet Cathcart. I was fortunate to go down there and talk with several of the troops. He was a great man and I was really just taken aback when I heard the news that he had died, Counavelis said. Leveling said one of Cathcarts strongest qualities was how he stayed in touch with family while serving more than 6,000 miles away in the Middle East. As a member of the Armys famous 101st Airborne Division, Cathcart frequently reassured his mother and sister through emails and telephone calls that he would return home from war as his division moved from Kuwait to Iraq. I have another mission tonight, wish me luck, and dont worry, he wrote in one email to his mother, who said she isnt yet ready to talk about the death of her son. A class from Bangor Central elementary school once sent a care package to Cathcart and he took the time to write an individual note to each student that included an Army patch as a gift. Thats who he was, Leveling said. He didnt want people sitting on pins and needles, so he did all he could do to communicate with them. The Army hasnt released additional information about the operation that ultimately took Cathcarts life. It wasnt the first time the Purple Heart recipient had been involved in a dangerous situation. While serving in eastern Afghanistan, he survived an improvised explosive device (IED) attack, according to Lt. Col. Brad Moses. The explosion ejected him from the vehicle, but Cathcart was able to recover and return to full duty. In a 2004 Times article, Jeanne Cathcart said it was difficult to turn on the TV and see news clips of her sons division in Iraq. The 101st frequently traveled with several embedded reporters. He feels that hes protecting everyone, the mother said in 2004. On her Facebook page, two days after her son died, she wrote that her heart is bleeding. I lost a part of me. I know someday, I will find peace in my heart. Michael died doing what he loved to do. The Hurricanes released a statement on the matter: “We are deeply saddened to hear that we’ve lost Sgt. Cathcart,” said general manager Ron Francis. “The day that Mike practiced with our team at Cleland Ice Rink at Fort Bragg was a very special day for our players. People throw around the word ‘hero’ too easily sometimes, but Mike Cathcart was a true hero. He proudly served our country and died protecting our safety and freedom. We are grateful for that day we were able to spend with him and the impact he left on our team. On behalf of the Hurricanes organization, I send heartfelt condolences to his family and his unit.” Hurricanes captain Eric Staal added: “It was an honor to share the ice with Mike that day. Mike had already been seriously injured in the line of duty, but he was determined to return to active duty. My teammates and I will never forget his sacrifice.” This is not a wonderful way to start ones Sunday, at all. Rest in peace Micahel A Cathcart. Your selflessness for the world community are not unnoticed by the international hockey community
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 23:24:22 +0000
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