News 8
Funeral held for only civilian killed in Fort Hood shootings 
04:41 AM CST on Monday, November 16, 2009
CAMERON, Texas - Hundreds of mourners crowded a church in Cameron, Texas Sunday to say goodbye to the only civilian killed in the November 5 rampage at Fort Hood.
The goodbyes for Michael Cahill were as solemn as they were sad.
A military escort carried Cahill's flag-covered casket into St. Monica's Catholic Church, which was where hundreds of mourners honored his life and grieved for his untimely death.
Cahill served in the Army National Guard for 23 years and was given full military honors at his funeral.
"Mike Cahill was a soldier; and then when he chose to retire from the service, he still came back to serve as a great provider for all of us in preparation for deploying soldiers as well as redeploying soldiers," said Brig. Gen. Will Grimsley of the U.S. Army. "He's one of us. He's part of the Army family."
Cahill was the only civilian killed when Major Nidal Hasan allegedly opened fire in the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood.
Cahill was a physician's assistant who helped soldiers getting ready to deploy and those coming back from overseas.
"We will miss Michael terribly, but we know he's with God," said Susan Murphy, a spokeswoman for the Cahill family.
Cahill is survived by his wife Joleen and three adult children. Mrs. Cahill's sister-in-law said the family is filled with gratitude for the love shown by people across the country."
"Thank you so very much everyone for all the sympathy, for all the prayers, for all the condolences, for all the support," Murphy said. "We thank you."
From the town of Cameron, Cahill's body will be taken to Billings, Montana, which is where he will be interred in the Spring.
