Casey Casanova, 22, Marine. - Democratic Underground

Maddy McCall

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Sun May-04-08 07:34 PM
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Casey Casanova, 22, Marine.

March 22, 2008 article: "Finding her way: Mother sees daughter find new life in Marines"

Paula Carruth always thought of her daughter Casey as a giggly, bubbly girl. But two years ago Casey Casanova surprised her mother by joining the U.S. Marine Corps. Now Casanova is a lance corporal in radio communications and serving her country in Iraq.

Casanova’s entry into the military was a bitter pill for Carruth to swallow; Casey, who will be 22 on March 27, is her only child.

“I begged her not to (join the Marines),” said Carruth, who lives with her parents, John and Kitty Carruth, in McComb. “I asked, ‘Why would you do this?’ She told me, ‘I am doing nothing here in McComb. I am young and there is nothing here for me. I want to do something with my life.’ It’s difficult for young people in McComb, and I had to learn to look at things in a different way.”

Still, it’s difficult for Carruth, who worries about her young daughter in the war-torn country’s city of Fallujah.

It was a poignant goodbye when, on Valentine’s Day, Casanova’s batallion shipped out of Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Calif.

And it’s a painful reminder for yet another parent whose child is being sent overseas to Iraq, where the war is beginning its sixth year this month.

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Carruth was so anxious about her daughter’s overseas service, she wanted to know if she could be exempt from the duty.

“She’s my only child. But they said she’s grown, she’s over 18 and can do what she wants,” Carruth said. “I used to be a little more upset about it.”Carruth has seen a huge change in her daughter. And though she’s had to accept the fact that Casanova is in the military, Carruth is proud of her daughter’s accomplishments.

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“There are days when I don’t think the war is necessary. Then there are days I think if it didn’t happen, what position would we be in? What dangers would we be in?” Carruth said. “I don’t know. My daughter assures me ... (the Iraqis) are very happy for them to be there. They are thankful, and where she is, peace is coming together. They’re building homes, walking the streets and are able to shop.

“These kids are there. They need people to be there for them, to remember them,” Carruth said. “They’re doing something that probably none of us would do, and they volunteered for it.”

snip/

Casanova asks her mother not to watch bad news from the war, but it’s hard for Carruth to stay away from the media stories. She admires her daughter’s strength.

“I always thought I had the wimpy girl, who would not stick up for herself. She surprised me,” Carruth said. “I’m very proud of her. My daughter is my best accomplishment in this life. She’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

MORE: http://www.enterprise-journal.com/articles/2008/03/24/news/01.txt

Article from today, May 4, 2008: "Marine Casanova killed by Iraq bomb"

A 22-year-old McComb woman who served with the U.S. Marines in Iraq was killed around 11 p.m. Friday Iraq time by a roadside bomb, a family friend reported Saturday.

Casey Casanova was a lance corporal in radio communications. She and three other U.S. Marines were in a transport when the roadside bomb went off, killing all four.

Casanova’s former youth minister, Nathan Wells of New Heights Baptist Church, said her mother, Paula Carruth, was taking it hard.

“She was a single mom, and Casey was an only child,” Wells said. “To get that message was really tough on her.”

MORE: http://www.enterprise-journal.com/articles/2008/05/04/news/03.txt