Casey Mellen killed by small arms fire

Corporal Casey Lee Mellen was killed Monday in Mosul, Iraq.

According to the Department of Defense, he died after his mounted patrol came into contact with small arms fire.

Corporal Mellen was deployed to Iraq back in June to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"It never really hits home until you get the knock on the door."

That dreaded knock came Monday for Casey Mellen, the father of Corporal Casey Lee Mellen.

"He was doing combat control, patrolling the streets, going around and looking for the bad guys if you will."

Mellen kept up with his son through phone calls and e-mails. The last time they talked, Casey was in good spirits.

"A couple of days before he was killed, he wrote me and said he was doing good, can't wait to come home and see you."

The Army Corporal is described by his family as adventurous, with a love for the outdoors.

His adventurous side is what drew him to the military.

His father says, "He was shy in a sense. He liked people, but he wouldn't go out of his way to meet new people, but he didn't shy away from them when they were like, 'Hey, Casey!'"

For the most part Casey grew up in Germany with his parents. He lived in Huachuca City for about four years before enlisting in the Army.

Casey's father knows the dangers in the Middle East. As a federal employee he worked in Iraq for several months and had a close call.

"We were about a mile or two away from home and a rocket propelled grenade hit our vehicle."

He believes his son and everyone in the military is a hero.

"The first thing that came to my mind was the Martin Luther King, Jr. 'I have a dream' speech he gave about let freedom ring. That's what they're doing there. They're giving people freedom."

Corporal Mellen also leaves a wife behind. Mellen's father was in the military years ago, and says he's proud that his son followed in his footsteps.

Corporal Mellen's body will be flown to Tucson and funeral services will be held in Sierra Vista.

From KVOA 4