Name: Army Staff Sgt. Sean P. Fisher
Age: 29
From: Santee, Calif.
Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Task Force 49, Fort Wainwright, Alaska
Incident: Army Staff Sgt. Sean P. Fisher died Aug. 14 in Taqaddum, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his helicopter crashed. Also killed were Chief Warrant Officer Christopher C. Johnson, Chief Warrant Officer Jackie L. McFarlane, Staff Sgt. Stanley B. Reynolds and Spc. Steven R. Jewell.
Died: August 14, 2007 STAFF SGT. SEAN P. FISHER 1977-2007
Son's death leaves mom asking why
With her son deploying to Iraq, Maria Fisher wasn't about to let an aching back stop her from dancing with him at his going-away party.
“I said, 'I don't care if I hurt myself, I'm going to dance with my son,'” Fisher said yesterday as she gazed at his black-and-white dancing shoes in her El Cajon living room. “He promised to dance with me again when he came home.
“That was our last dance.”
Staff Sgt. Sean P. Fisher, 29, was one of five Army soldiers who died Aug. 14 when their helicopter crashed in Al Taqaddum, Iraq. Fisher and the other crew members were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Task Force 49 in Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
This week, Fisher's family and girlfriend, Melissa Volentine, are preparing for a funeral Mass on Friday at St. Kieran's Catholic Church in El Cajon.
Votive candles and American flags line the sidewalk to the apartment Maria Fisher shares with her husband, Walter Fisher. Sean Fisher's black-and-white shoes, his favorite Padres hat and several photos of the young soldier form a sort of shrine on the living room table.
Sean Fisher grew up in East County and graduated from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon. He got married and had a daughter, Bailey, now 6 years old.
Fisher worked at a McDonald's restaurant and the Viejas Casino, but he enlisted in the Army five years ago, his mother said, because he saw it as a reliable job that would provide training in mechanics, one of his passions.
Fisher served a year in Iraq in a previous deployment, his mother said. His wife couldn't handle the separation, and the couple recently divorced. Maria Fisher's last call from her son came at 5:30 a.m. Aug. 13. He told her he was re-enlisting. “I told him, 'I can't share your happiness,'” she said.
Sean Fisher told his mother he would receive a $20,000 bonus and talked of opening up an auto repair shop or working for an airline when he got out of the service.
“He had all these dreams,” Maria Fisher said.
The next day, she was notified that her son was dead. That day, a letter from him arrived in the mail for Volentine. Volentine said Fisher signed the letter “Your No. 1 hero.”
“He said a prayer that we would get through this together because if we could get through this, we could get through anything,” Volentine said.
Maria Fisher is bitter that her son died in what she called “a useless war.”
She said she feels that President Bush lied to the country about the reasons for invading Iraq and that going to war was not necessary.
“Serving your country is good, but not for no reason,” she said. “I don't see the purpose for being there.”
As of yesterday, 3,701 troops had died in the Iraq war. Maria Fisher said she sees reports of the deaths almost every day, and now her son's body will be arriving home in a coffin Thursday.
Prayers & Condolences For: Sean P Fisher BY Anonymous on Jul 10, 2009
thankyou for your service to our Country, for you so loved your Country you were willing to lay down your life for it and and we thank you for keeping us safe you are a true Hero and you well live for ever in our hearts and in our minds, may God have you in his loving arms, rest in peace, MY FRIEND Sincerely grateful.
Prayers & Condolences For: Sean P Fisher BY Anonymous on Jan 25, 2009
Thank you for your Courage & Service. May you rest peacefully in Gods loving arms.
Prayers & Condolences For: Sean P Fisher BY Kawaierus on Aug 15, 2008
Rest in peace, you are a true hero. May God be with you and with all your family. Your sacrifice wont ever be forgotten.
Prayers & Condolences For: Sean P Fisher BY sexygal001 on Jun 06, 2008
Thank you so much for your bravery, patriotism, love of our country and the ultimate sacrifice you have made for us. May your family find comfort in knowing that you are with God now and guarding the gates of heaven. Rest in peace. You will never be forgotten.
Prayers & Condolences For: Sean P Fisher BY miyembro on May 25, 2008
Your sacrifice will remain in our hearts for a lifetime,
with intense gratitude. May God bless you and your family.
Rest Safely and Securely in God's Loving Arms.
Prayers & Condolences For: Sean P Fisher BY Anonymous on Aug 22, 2007
No man will stand as tall as when he reaches out to help some one else. As a Soldier you offered your hand every day. Now you stand in the Army of god always on patrol seeking others to help. Stand at ease Soldier your fight is done. God Bless you and your breave family..