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Remodeling an entire kitchen can be challenging, but, for one Sparta man, the hard work turned into an unexpected and emotional blessing when he found a note from his late uncle who was killed in action during the Vietnam War.
Capt. John Michael Casey, who graduated from White County High School, in 1962, was killed March 25, 1968, in Thua Thien. He was only 23 years old.
On Aug. 24, 2022, Capt. Casey’s nephew and namesake, John Michael Casey (whom everyone calls “John”), was in the process of remodeling the kitchen of his home that he inherited from his grandmother, Maggie Belle Casey (Capt. Casey’s mother). John was almost speechless when he found these words written inside the wall: “This was written in 1961. When this is finally found, would the finder PLEASE contact me, John Michael Casey, Social Security # 413-66-2286. [John Michael Casey] lived in this house from 1944 until 1963. He graduated in 1962 [high school].”
For those who graduated with Michael Casey, I am sure the tears are falling. As an almost 13-year-old at the time of Michael’s death, I am vividly remembering his military graveside service where I stood with my parents.
My hope is that more family members of our fallen veterans will find memories that continue to live on in their hearts and minds.
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KelliCaseyGunnells
This was such an unexpected treasure to find today. I was reminiscing and thinking about John Michael today and his sacrifice. My memories go back to a DC trip about 20 years ago on Memorial Day weekend, I went to visit the Vietnam Memorial Wall and found his name. I went to the virtual Wall of Faced today, which is where I found some commentary and remembrances from fellow servicemen who served with John and read about the story about his heroism and bravery the night he died. I was searching Sparta papers to see if there was an article written back in ‘68 about his death when I stumbled upon this wonderful story.
You see, John Michael was my first cousin. I had just turned four years old a couple of weeks before the call came that he had been killed in the line of duty. I remember that so vividly as a child. My father was John Michael’s uncle, the baby brother of John Wilson Casey. My daddy was actually born in 1913, in the very house that is mentioned in this article. I’ve got pictures of my grandfather from early 1900’s in the back garden, and I remember going to visit Aunt Maggie when I was young after Uncle John had died. We had come up to to go to the ‘generational’ White County high school reunion. I remember going to see dads home place where he grew up. I have vivid memories of the white house sitting up on the hill and the rock wall around. I remembered walking up the steps and hugging Aunt Maggie and visiting with her in the living room. I remember in the front left room was a framed, colorized portrait of John Michael hanging from old picture railing trim on the wall. The room was dimly lit, there was wallpaper that it started to peel a little bit from the wall. The same photo in this article. I know when looking at that photo I had no concept of what that all meant.
With my daddy’s brother is being so much older I never really knew many of my dad‘s family. Aunt Maggie and Uncle John were the only of the 7 siblings other than my dad (Adney Finch) and Aunt Mary (Mary Francis) to have had children. Uncle John and Aunt Maggie had two: Joe Wilson Casey and John Michael Casey. Being only four at the time that John Michael was killed, I never had the opportunity to meet him. I never had the opportunity to meet Joe Wilson either.
Having a deep internal longing to want to know, or feel some connection to my dad‘s family, I went on a pilgrimage to Sparta about eight or so years ago. Upon arrival, I found the Sparta police department and ask them to point me in the direction of the oldest living Sparta resident that I could talk with. Fate would have it, that they connected me with Ms. Donelson, who lived a couple of blocks over in that beautiful, architecturally stunning, classic southern home on the corner with the fence and perfectly manicured lawn. She graciously shared her afternoon. Not only did she remember my father and our family, she actually had all the cemetery records for the county. I had heard dad tell stories about where his parents were buried, his grandparents were buried in the cemetery above the Calf Killer River. Off we went on a pilgrimage finding my great grandparents graves, the grave of my daddy‘s twin sisters that died shortly after they were born, found the graves of the Spurlocks who were from my grandmothers side of the family. We went over to Highland cemetery where I found the graves of my grandfather Hiram Guy Casey, my grandmother, Mary Alta Spurlock Casey, Uncle John, Aunt Maggie Belle and John Michael Casey.
Before leaving the area, I could not leave Sporto without trying to find my fathers home place. I remember Daddy telling me that it was on the main drag, back in the 30s when cars were just starting to be a thing, and the roads were still mud. My grandfather had been hit by a car in front of their home. We drove around until we found it. It was exactly as I had remembered. The wall, the steps, the house sitting up off the road. It was now more in the middle of a commercial like area than it was in my childhood memory. I knocked on the door with no answer. I can’t remember now if I left a note or tried to find a number. But I had heard later that evening when we were leaving and went to a great little Mexican restaurant for dinner that Maggie Belle had given the house to her grandson. I didn’t know his name until today.
I never had the opportunity to meet my cousin, heroic Capt. John Michael Casey but I would love the opportunity to meet his namesake. I just might have to plan another pilgrimage up to Sparta. I’d love to meet John Michael , visit my dads home place, our family’s home place, and see how John remodeled the kitchen…I bet Mary Alta and Maggie Bell would love it.. Kelli Casey Gunnells, Birmingham, AL kelligunnells@gmail.com
Saturday, May 27, 2023 Report this