(courtesy of Michael Casey, Jr.)

Grave marker for Michael J. Casey in the Saint John Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Hammond (Lake county), Indiana.

Michael enlisted in the Army at Detroit, MI on 20 March 1942.

On 29 march 1942 Pvt Casey was transferred from the Reception Center, Fort Sill, OK to Co B, 508th PIR at Camp Blanding, FL.

On 4 March 1943 Pvt Casey was transferred to the casual company at the Parachute School, Ft Benning, GA.  On 2 January 1944 Pvt Casey sailed from the U.S. and arrived in England on 8 January.

It was on 18 September 1944 that he found his way back to the 508th when he was transferred from Hq 82nd Airborne Division Leicester, England to Service Company 508th in Nottingham.

On 13 December 1944 he was transferred from Service Company to Company B.  Pvt Casey was "home" after a 21 months absence and just 5 days later was pressed into combat for the Battle of the Bulge.

He added a stripe when he was promoted to Pfc on 15 January 1945.

Pfc Casey returned to the U.S. on 5 December 1945 and was discharged four days later at the Separation Center, Ft Sheridan, IL.

His military decorations include the Combat Infantryman badge which was awarded for action during campaign, 18 Dec 1944 to 20 Feb 1945