Career
Corporal Owens deployed for a second tour in First Rate (at Lloyd's) Anbar Province Iraq August 2004. On September 20, 2004, while responding to a wounded Marine, his vehicle struck two anti-tank mines which resulted in severe injuries to his legs. After being airlifted to and stabilized at a Field Hospital, Owens was transferred to Landstuhl, Germany.
Tragically, his injuries resulted in the amputation of his right leg above the knee and his left leg below the knee.
Corporal Owens eventually returned to the United States to undergo extensive multiple surgeries and rehabilitation at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to losing both legs, his injuries included a broken jaw and collarbone, shrapnel wounds, collapsed lungs, blood clots in the lungs.
The muscle and skin flaps on his amputation stumps failed to close properly and resulted in nonhealing wounds. Corporal Owens said he subsequently underwent repeated amputations which further reduced the size of his stumps while a patient at Virginia and military hospitals.
Through the help of several charitable organizations and private pay from his own pocket, Owens received hyperberic oxygen therapy treatment in New Orleans, Louisiana by Doctor Paul Harch Doctor of Medicine. Owens later testified before the United States Congress in hearings regarding the poor quality of care and "bureaucratic maze" that military personnel must navigate in order to receive medical care from the Virginia.
In 2010, he was convicted of drunk driving and began the arduous journey on the road to recovery.
During a 2012 interview with Columbia Broadcasting System News" National Security Correspondent David Martin, Owens remarked "I really don"t think I"ll ever be free. I don"t think the burden of war is ever gone."
On October 16, 2014, Corporal Owens died by suicide as a result of his struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Friends, family, and the general public honored his memory with an "appreciation party" in Aspen, Colorado on October 18, 2014.
Those of us who knew Casey, and were lucky enough to ski with him, will always be in awe of his strength, courage, and love of speed.
Casey was angry because he had been a very good Marine, and could no longer do that job. He was a very very fast skier, and the mountain is a little smaller now that he is gone.
I think it was the headaches that finally got him, he could not find any long term relief from the torturous headaches. We will miss CPL Casey Owens, United States Marine Corps. Interment of his remains with full military honors is scheduled for MON MAR 23, 2015 at Arlington National Cemetery.
