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Bobby Callahan

    
Tuesday, September 26 2006 @ 08:06 AM EDT
Contributed by: tomw
Views: 1,862
Individuals USNews Record -- HIGH POINT -- Bobby Callahan wasn't always the best kid.

He dropped out of Southwest Guilford High School in the 10th grade to be home-schooled. He found himself arguing with his parents quite a bit. And he drank.

Then at 18, Callahan decided it was time for a change: He thought the Army might be his savior.

Callahan enlisted and found a home.

"The thing I'm most proud of is how he blossomed," his father, David Callahan, said. "In boot camp, he was talking about quitting. Then, he just turned into a man."

Army Spc. Robert Thomas Callahan died Tuesday in Iraq when the vehicle in which he was riding overturned. He was 22 and stationed in the Baghdad region.

The Army had turned Bobby Callahan's life around, his family said Thursday. He straightened up and apologized to his parents for giving them a hard time during his teenage years.

He had fallen in love and married in January. His wife, Kristen Callahan, lives in Syracuse, N.Y., near where he was stationed. He was able to buy a new car -- an Acura RSX -- something that had meant a lot to him.

"The Army and Kristen really helped him out a lot," his mother, Robin Minor said. "He was a sweetheart. He had a huge heart, was nice to everybody and never met a stranger."

Callahan was assigned to the Fourth Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, part of the 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, N.Y.

He had been in Iraq for about a month and was starting his second tour of duty there.

The first time around, he was awarded an Army Commendation Medal with valor for saving another soldier's life while under enemy mortar fire.

In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by a brother, Sean Callahan, a sister, Sarah Callahan, and step-father, Ben Minor.

Callahan's funeral and burial will likely be next week, family said. They plan to bury him at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Greensboro near other local soldiers.

Callahan's family shared stories Thursday morning about Bobby while waiting for Army officers to arrive.

His mother dotted her tears with a brown T-shirt that Bobby wore during his last visit. It was his favorite and had a picture of a Buddha with the slogan, "For good luck, rub my belly."

His brother pulled out a letter Bobby wrote during his first tour in Iraq. Soft from folding and unfolding, Sean Callahan, 17, keeps it in his wallet.

His sister, Sarah Callahan, recalled how Bobby would come down to Charlotte when he was on leave to visit her at college.

On one such trip, the two didn't bother to tell their mother he was in town, instead choosing to surprise her with a visit at her Guilford County home.

"I walked in the door in front of him and mom said 'Oh, that's a nice surprise,' " Sarah Callahan, 20, said. "Then, when she saw him behind me she just dropped to her knees and he gave her the biggest hug."

He was never lucky with cars, even though he enjoyed them. One time, at an early hour, he went to fill up his car from a fuel tank at the house. He didn't notice it said diesel on it and poured into his regular engine.

"He started the engine up and it blew up," Ben Minor said with a laugh. "He said diesel and gas smell the same."

They talked about how Bobby would tell them the war in Iraq was doing so much good for the people there and how the United States needed to stay until the job was done.

"The kids just worshiped them over there," Sarah Callahan said.

Mostly they talked about what a good man Bobby became after joining the military.

"He was proud of himself for what he did, and he should've been," said his cousin, Christopher Shepherd, 26, of Kernersville. "He went through a bit of trouble in his teen years, and then he joined the Army. It helped him, but he did it on his own."

And about how much he will be missed.

"I guess God needed him more than we did," Robin Minor said.
 
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Bobby Callahan
Authored by: anonymous on Wednesday, September 27 2006 @ 02:39 AM EDT
To the Callahan family from the Wahl family. Deeply sadden of the news of Bobby. These will be very diffucult days ahead. Please be supportive toward one another. you all loved Bobby and in very different ways. reflect on the very fond and precious memorable moments you each shared together with Bobby. You realize he is still very much with you: in your hearts always! Bobby has not died in vain! he is an American hero: and so much more to those that loved and knew him. bobby is with our son Gregory and all his fallen brothers and sisters never to be alone. Bobby is rememebered today and all the tomorrow's. Never ever to be forgotten. God Bless our heart and prays are with Bobby and your family. father of fallen soldier US Army Sgt. Gregory L. Wahl KIA Balad, Iraq 05-03-04. Salisbury, North Carolina
Bobby Callahan
Authored by: anonymous on Saturday, September 30 2006 @ 08:58 AM EDT
My heart goes out to all of you, as I am the mother of another 4-31 soldier serving with your son. I know that there aren't words to comfort you at this time, I will say a prayer for your family, and all the men and women serving.
Bobby Callahan
Authored by: anonymous on Friday, October 13 2006 @ 08:18 AM EDT
Bobby,
I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

"Polar Bears-Pro Patria"(For Country)31st Inf. Motto
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