Trust. Integrity. Reputation.
December - 2006Fallen soldier was dedicated to military
By Laura Stevens
Windspeaker Staff Writer
FREDERICTON
Michael Todd Seeley was only 27-years-old when his life came to an end on foreign soil, some 5,000 miles from his home in Fredericton.
Seeley was serving with the United States Army in Iraq when he was killed on Oct. 30 by an explosive device that detonated near his vehicle. At the time of the incident, Seeley, a member of Bravo Company of the 28th Infantry Unit based in Fort Hood, Texas, was showing replacement troops which roads to patrol. He was originally scheduled to be back in Texas on Oct. 28, but his stay in Iraq was extended until Nov. 5.
Seeley was aware of the risks of his job. "He felt it was something he had to do," said Barry Labillois, Seeley's uncle.
"He was the type of lad, like any young person, you are in danger but you almost feel like you're invincible," said Labillois. "With Michael, it was to the point that the last trip he made over there, he knew he wasn't invincible because there were so many soldiers around him that were dying. So it was his way of saying they haven't got me yet, but it can happen."
After graduating from Fredericton high school in June of 1998, Seeley joined the Canadian Forces and then enlisted with the U.S. Marines Corp. the following year. He spent four years as a Marine, serving in Japan, South America, Africa and Iraq before receiving an honorable discharge. Then he signed up for the U.S. Army.
"When he was with the Canadian army, it wasn't good enough," said Labillois. "The equipment that they had wasn't adequate enough compared to what the States had. It was always a comparison. Back and forth, and it came to the point where he said I have to try this and do this."
Labillois said that, during his first tour in Iraq, Seeley didn't really see the danger but knew it was there.
"With all of the bombings and killings we did fear for him and pray for him but he was pretty much always taught everything so you didn't have to worry about him because you knew he was going to be right front and centre of everything," said Labillois. "He looked after himself and the rest of the those around him. He was well trained."
Labillois described his nephew as a sports enthusiast with a special interest in mountain biking.
"Michael and his brothers liked to do a lot of biking. They were always competitive on their bikes."
Labillois recounted one of the stories Seeley had shared with him about his experience in the military when he was among a group of soldiers who had to put on their gear and go for a 10-mile walk around the lake.
"They had to do it in a certain amount of time and when they got back, Michael said, 'Well I didn't see no lake. We were supposed to go for a run around a lake. Well, where's the lake?' So, the drill sergeant said, 'OK, everybody up. We're going around the lake again.' Well, the soldiers weren't too happy with Mike, so he never questioned about the lake after that," said Labillois. "But that was the type of person Mike was. He was just himself."
The news of Seeley's death was a shock to his family, but it was made even more difficult because it came on the heels of another loss. Just a month-and-a-half before, Seeley's grandfather, who suffered from Alzheimer's and dementia, also passed away.
"When his grandfather passed away it was hard on the family but we knew it was coming so we knew it was just a matter of time," said Labillois. "If anything, when he did pass away it was kind of a blessing for us because he wasn't suffering anymore because he was in such pain for a while. But with Mike, it was, bang, you heard the news."
What made Seeley's death even more difficult was the week of waiting for his body to be returned home to his family.
"It seemed to get harder and harder to grasp, wondering when his body would arrive," said Labillois. "It took long because of the time to get things prepared over there and then he had to be shipped back to the States for an autopsy and then shipped to Canada."
Seeley was loved by his family and community and will be forever remembered for his bravery and commitment to both the countries he called home.
The New Brunswick Peoples Council issued a press release upon learning of Seeley's death.
"Cpl. Seeley was a proud member of the Armed Forces and was committed to his task and firmly believed in what he was doing to protect not only the U.S.A, Canada, the public in general and his extended Aboriginal community," said Chief Betty Ann Lavallee of the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council.
The premier of New Brunswick, Shawn Graham, also issued a statement honoring Seeley's memory and his sacrifice. Calling Seeley a proud member of the Mi'kmaq community, Graham said the fallen soldier "is being remembered by those who knew him best as a devoted and selfless soldier ... His sacrifice will not be forgotten and he will be dearly missed by all who knew and served with him."