SGT Sean Patrick Fennerty ~ Farewell, and Walk with God

SGT Sean Patrick Fennerty

February 2, 1981 ~ January 20, 2007

Sgt Sean Patrick Fennerty, 25, of Portland, Oregon will killed by an IED explosion in the Anbar Province of Iraq. Sgt Fennerty served with the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Sgt Fennerty was born in San Diego, at the Naval Hospital. His father was on active duty at the time. He grew up in Tucson, Arizona and Portland, Oregon. He graduated from Jesuit High School in Portland in 1999 and from Oregon State University with a Bachelor's degree in History in 2004.

He joined the Army in July 2004. Don Clarke, director of campus ministry at Jesuit High School, said, "I think that what happened with 9/11 challenged him at a deeper level. He saw enlisting in the Army as being a way to answer his acute awareness of duty. I think, for him, with his sense of what was right and wrong, and sense of duty, it was a pretty good fit. And, I think that also is reflected in the way his peers in the Army saw him as well."

Fennerty's family said he always wanted to be in the military and serve his country and felt this was part of honor and service.

His school remembers him as "a faith-filled person who participated in all areas of the school. He took it upon himself to strengthen the school community with his generous and giving spirit. His awareness of duty to make our world a better place is what led him into the military service of our country."

Fennerty loved to ski, fish and spend time with his friends and always wanted to be in the military and serve his country as he felt this was a part of honor and service.

He is survived by his mother, Mo, father, Brian, two sisters, Kelly of Seattle, WA and Colleen of Chicago, IL and brother, Conor of Washington, DC.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fennerty family, Sean's friends and fellow soldiers at this very sad time.

Walk with God, Sean. Thank you for your service and your devotion to our country.