Casey P. Zylman
Corporal, United States Army
March 31, 1985 – May 24, 2007
Age – 22
Coleman, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI
Died of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Mosul, Iraq
Casey was a 2003 graduate of Coleman High School where he served on the student council and was active in sports, playing football, basketball and baseball. He was also a member of Board Scholars, the National Honor Society and was involved in the Drama Program and Midland County 4-H. Casey enlisted in the United States Army in July of 2005.
Randy and Jamie were proud of their son even before he enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his time at Coleman High School, Casey was active in football, basketball and baseball and would mentor his teammates. He was also a member of student council, Board Scholars, National Honor Society and was involved in theater and Midland County 4-H. After graduating in 2003, he got a full-ride scholarship to Northwood University to study business.
“He was undecided about what he wanted to do. He just wanted to join the military because of the Iraq situation,” Randy said.
Casey enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 2005 and trained at Fort Knox before shipping out to Iraq. Both Casey and Randy, who is a Vietnam veteran, served with the 25th Infantry Division. The Zylmans were able to talk with Casey a few times during his tour of duty and even got to see him for Thanksgiving in 2006.
Cpl Zylman received posthumous military honors, including the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, and service medals including the Global War on Terror Medal and the Iraqi Campaign Medal. He was posthumously promoted to corporal. He died at age 23 of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated.
