Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA
US Army
Sergeant, 181st Engineer Company, Massachusetts National Guard
10/16/2011, Louisville, KY, USA
Sergeant Shawn Michael Reilly was born on May 8, 1967 in Pittsfield Massachusetts. He lost his battle to PTSD and TBI October 16, 2011.
He was part of Panama Operation Just Cause parachuting with the 75th Ranger Battalion. He was deployed in 2005 to Operation Iraqi Freedom and in 2007 he was deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom with the 181st Engineer Company. In Ranger school in 1988 he was awarded a trophy for most motivated soldier. He was the proud recipient of Combat Jump Wings for jumping into Panama with the 75th Ranger Battalion during Operation Just Cause. He received the Purple Heart Medal for injuries he sustained over in Iraq , Shawn was also had Three Campaign Stars, the U.S. Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He was an exemplary soldier and loved by many. He was a jokester and the boys in his unit nicknamed him RANGERSMURF because he was only 5’5.
He would do anything for anyone that needed help. He loved football. The Vikings were his favorite team. Shawn was an avid hunter and enjoyed everything to do with the outdoors. His favorite place was in his tree stand in the woods. Shawn loved being a Ranger and as he called it “Playing Army”. He loved his job serving his country.
Not a day goes by that I do not miss him and his silly antics. He was my best friend and husband and I miss him so very much.
If Tears Could Build A Stairwell
If tears could build a stairwell and memories were a lane, I would walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again. No farewell words were spoken, no time to say good-bye… You were gone before I knew it, and only God knows why. My heart still aches in sadness and secret tears still flow, What it means to lose you no one will ever know.