The following entries are an account by a fellow soldier who Patrick rescued, a letter from Patrick’s Platoon Leader and a variety of pictures and a video in order that you can see Patrick and have a glimpse of who he was:
The Giant of Kandahar
In Afghanistan on January 18, 2010, Patrick rescued fellow soldiers after an IED explosion. Platoon mate Wesley Pint vividly recalled the attack. In his own words he wrote to us and called Patrick “The Giant of Kandahar.”
“3 AM Kandahar. Nighttime desert. Truck lit by gray panels. The world is black and gray.
BOOM! FLASH! PAIN!
The air is smoke-laden; what is burning? Oh, shit, an IED. The truck is still moving. Maybe we’re okay. The whole frame shudders and stops.
I must get out. I can’t feel my leg or arm. I can’t see. Smoke everywhere. I can smell it. I smell the fire. What is burning?
Open the hatch. Get out. No hatch.
Skip that step. Get out. Heaving up. I’m stuck. The flames are kissing me. I must get out. My leg won’t move. Fuck it. Yank it off. I don’t need a foot.
I’m loose!!! Up and out. Get out! What is burning? Crawling off the truck, embrace the ground. My body isn’t working.
I feel nothing. The moondust is everywhere. I can’t taste it. Just the carbon. And oil. And cordite.
Wood is screaming. “Oh God!” Why can’t I get up. Get up! Pain now. Shooting up my leg. I grab the tourniquet. It won’t fit. Why can’t I think? Wood is still screaming. What is burning?
The flames lick out of my hatch. The vehicle is burning. They highlight him, that beautiful giant, Patrick Casey. “Pint!” Casey cries. “Where are you?” I answer him. An answer squeaks like a mouse. Wood is still screaming. Casey carries me away, then gets Wood. And Wright. Only the truck is burning.”
After Patrick’s death, we received this letter from Captain Patterson, Patrick’s platoon leader. It speaks for itself. (Click on the letter to expand)
Patrick had always admired Richard Engel – a news reporter for NBC. Mr. Engel embedded himself with Patrick’s unit soon after they arrived in Afghanistan. Patrick talked to him about when he worked in Israel, traveling to Jordan and Egypt. He explained to Mr. Engel that he would like to return there since he now knows the Arabic language and work there but did not know what he could do. Mr. Engel suggested that he get a Master’s Degree in Middle Eastern studies and see where that would take him. That is the reason Patrick was attending George Washington University in Washington, D. C.
Each time Patrick went out on patrol, in addition to his equipment and ammunition he would always try to take something for the many children he encountered. Sometimes some candy, other times small toys. Here he has a bag of M&Ms. The children were fascinated with him since he was a very large soldier, wore a beard (like all the Afghan men) and actually could speak to them in their language – Pashtu. Patrick was trained by the military to speak Arabic and Pashtu.
This is a very short clip of the unit waking in the morning and getting ready to continue their patrol. Patrick can be seen standing up, adjusting his rifle and walking past the film maker. He can be overheard saying “Not much sir…another day in paradise” and chuckling. This is actually the only recording of his voice.
Since Patrick knew the local language of Pashtu, he could talk to the men whenever they visited a village. These talks were not “official” and were relaxed and friendly. In these talks he often learned quite a bit of information that he then relayed to his platoon leader.