John Daley reporting The first Utahn to die in the war in Iraq came back home Sunday night. Marine Staff Sergeant James Cawley, a Salt Lake City police officer and swat team leader, had been in the Middle East since February.
He was killed a week ago in an accident inside Iraq. Sunday night, his casket arrived back at Salt Lake International Airport.
It was a heartrending scene as James Cawley's casket was escorted by a Marine honor guard, as friends, family and fellow police officers looked on.
There are few greater sorrows than a group of family and friends gathered to meet a man on his final trip home. That he died far away, in a foreign land, as a soldier at war, makes it that much sadder.
Staff Sgt. Cawley died in Iraq when he was accidentally hit by a Humvee, as his unit scrambled to get to a firefight.
Sunday night, his former partner Detective Mark Shuman remembered him as a man of duty, a great man, and a good officer.
Sunday night there was an abudance of two things--American flags, and tears for one Utahn who believed in his country so strongly he was ready to die for it.
James Cawley leaves behind a wife and two children, and a large extended family united in their pride for having known him and their sadness that he's gone.
Services for James Cawley will be held Thursday in Bountiful.
