Shawn Adams remembered

Looking at the quiet Dixon home, with its American flag waving gently in the breeze next to a tree tied with a yellow ribbon, one would never know that inside, a family mourned the loss of their son, brother, friend and soldier.

U.S. Army Sgt. Shawn G. Adams, 21, died Sunday in Owaset, Iraq, of wounds suffered as a result of a roadside bomb detonating close to his vehicle, according to the Department of Defense.

Adams, a Vanden High School graduate who split his family time between Dixon and Vacaville, was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

But that hardly begins to describe the man he was, said family and friends. His mother lives in Dixon and father lives in Vacaville.
Sporting a T-shirt bearing the photograph of his stepson and daughters above the words "Daddy's Pride," Robert Gillis met with media in front of the family's Dixon home and tried to put into words the honorable man his stepson had grown to be.

"The boy had more heart than anyone I know," he said. "He was always true to his commitments and he followed through."

Adams was devoted to family, Gillis said.

The day he died was the one-year wedding anniversary to Wihelmina Elizabeth Adams, who he met through a mutual friend while stationed in Anchorage, Alaska.

"I'm very glad he found the love of his life," Gillis said. "It was the first girl he brought home."

He was also patriotic to his core.

Adams' father, Vacaville resident Darcy Adams, served in the Navy and said that his son following in his footsteps was not a surprise.

"He's an adrenaline junky like me," Darcy said. "He seeked the thrill."

Darcy explained that he and Shawn's mom, Laura Gillis, had to sign and give permission for their son to enlist.

"He was only 17," Darcy said. "And if I knew the outcome then, I still wouldn't change my decision. It's still a major shock."

Shawn, according to Laura, knew what he was getting into when he signed up to serve in the military.

"He was all boy," she said. "He was trucks, dirt and a daredevil."

Even though his family was hesitant to let him go into the Army, they knew Shawn had made up his mind.

"He was very independent," said Robert, holding a picture of his stepson in his high school football uniform. "He knew exactly what he wanted. We felt that it was his decision to make."

Still, the family worried.

"Of course we were hesitant to let him go," Laura said. "But even if I didn't want him to go, he would have found a way."

Shawn left for the Army in August of 2004, only two months after graduating from high school.

"He knew exactly what he was doing and he always had a smile," said Bea Bruno, Adams' grandmother. "He had the ability to make everything small. Nothing was too big for him to handle."

Even a severe wound to his leg was only a minor setback, the family said.

On New Year's Eve 2006, Shawn, while on duty in Iraq, was injured by an explosion that left shrapnel in his left leg. It was the same night that his best friend, Joseph Andrew Medeiros Jr., was killed in a car accident while stationed in Fort Hood, Texas.

"They called to let us know he was hurt," Laura said. "Shawn said he was fine because he would never let me worry."

And with a quick recovery, Shawn returned to duty.

"He was the ultimate fighter," said Cheryl Feeley, Adams' aunt. "We should all be honored that he fought for his country. He knew what he wanted to do and he did it well."

The war in Iraq is something Bruno still doesn't understand.

"I'm proud of Shawn, but I'm mad at the politicians," she said. "The boys need to come home. It doesn't make sense for us to still be over there."

The family, however, continues to support the troops.

"We might not agree with the politics, but we still need to support our troops," Darcy added.

For now, the family holds on to the good memories of Shawn - a young man, who liked the outdoors, swimming, football, baseball and looking out for his three younger sisters, Lacy Gillis, 15, and Samantha Gillis, 12, and Mary Adams, 7.

"He was always there," said 15-year-old Lacy, adding that Adams tried to warn her about boys and the clothes she wore.

They also enjoyed watching movies and shared a love of music, she said.

"He was all about family," Robert said. "He was happy to be with his family."

Dixon is a small town and news of Adams' death moved quickly. The Dixon City Council meeting Tuesday night was opened with a moment of silence, the meeting dedicated to Shawn's memory. Flags across the community were lowered to half staff and will stay that way for the next week, said City Manager Warren Salmons.

Funeral arrangements have not been completed.

Shawn is also survived by his father, stepmother Gay Adams of Vacaville and grandparents Jim and Gloria Pasley and Mike Bruno of Vacaville.

From the Daily Democrat

Related Link:
Shawn G. Adams dies 'of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device'