Holding Down the Fort
When 12-year-old Mark Cassitty watched his father march off to war with the Indiana National Guard in August of 2005, he wasn't sure he'd ever see his cub scout leader, baseball coach and best friend again. All Mark could do was try to be the man of the house by helping out his mom, Ela, and sister, Joann, 14, get through the next 14 months. As a family, they held down the fort until Sgt. Cassitty returned home with his unit in October of 2006.
Spotting his dad, Sgt. Rick Cassitty of Elberfeld, Ind., marching to one of three buses to transport him to the airport and eventually Iraq, 12-year-old Mark Cassitty joins in on the nearly 1,000 strong ovation for the Indiana National Guardsmen.
After getting home from school, Michaela has dinner ready for the kids and then it's time for homework. Mark's math homework was a bit challenging this evening, and his mom, a native German, found it challenging as well.
While dad was away Mark grilled burgers for the first time on the family's back porch in August. "A lot of grease came off of one of them and a big old flame just popped up," Mark said. "It got real hot."
At only 4-feet and 7-and-a-half inches tall, Mark's dreams of becoming an NBA player are beginning to fade a bit, but he still enjoys a good slam dunk with the help of some old milk cartons.
"We act kind of mean to each other sometimes," Mark said of his sister, "but sometimes we're nice." "We have a good relationship," Joann said, "but sometimes we can get into fights."
With dad in Iraq, Mark could only share the news of his recent growth spurt through an email message. Mark also shot is first deer with his grandma and had braces put on without his dad being around for the milestones.
Mark and his family decorate their Elberfeld, Ind., home in preparation for his dad's return from Iraq.
Helium balloons and streamers offered Mark and his sister a chance to not only decorate their home for their dad's return, but also to inhale a little helium and sing tunes.
Mark Cassitty, 14, was a 12-year-old when his dad, Staff Sgt. Rickey Cassitty of Elberfeld, Ind., went to war. "When he was leaving for Iraq, I was kinda sad 'cause he'd be gone for a long time," Mark recalled. "When he came back I was happy. I started screaming and waving my flag all around."
Newly promoted Staff Sgt. Rickey Cassitty calls for his family to hustle it up at the National Guard Armory after his unit returned October 29, 2006. "Let's go home," he yelled.
Both father and son were relieved to have the family back together after 14 long months of worry and loneliness.