Rest in Peace

In Memory of Capt. Sean Sims

Captain Sean Patrick Sims born August 27, 1972, died November 13, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq. Captain Sims was commanding A Company, 2-2 BN, 1st Infantry Division, when he was killed in action. He was leading his company in action against a band of insurgents occupying buildings in Fallujah.


Captain Sims graduated from Texas A&M University. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Ross Volunteers, Ranger Challenge and commander of Company L-2. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and received a distinguished military graduate commission into the United States Army as an Infantry officer. He was the top graduate in his platoon at the Infantry Officers Basic Course, and then attended the Airborne School, Pathfinder Course, and Ranger School. He then was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division as a platoon leader and Company Executive Officer. He later attended the Armor Officers Course and followed that with an assignment to Germany where he was assigned to the Seventh Army Training Center at Grafenwoehr. After one year he was transferred to the 1st Infantry Division in Vilseck where he spent the rest of the time as Brigade and Battalion Staff Officer, including eight months with the 1st Infantry Division deployed to Kosovo. He then joined Company A, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division for deployment to Iraq in February of 2004.


He was married to the former Heidi Duty 96 of Eddy, Texas. He is survived by Heidi and a young son, Colin Patrick, who had a mere five weeks with his father before he deployed to Iraq.


Captain Sims is the son of Colonel Thomas L. and Laura (nee Ivey) Sims of McKinney, Texas and El Paso. He is the grandson of a major leader in the history of El Paso, Ben L. Ivey, deceased, and Leone O. (nee Drugan) Ivey of the Lower Valley. His paternal grandfather, Walter K. Sims, is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and was a long time resident of El Paso where he spent many years working for the Texas Employment Commission.


Source: Obituary Notice


Citation to Accompany the Award of the Silver Star:


FOR VALOROUS ACTIONS AS THE COMMANDER OF COMPANY A, TASK FORCE 2-2 INFANTRY, WHILE ATTACKING TO DEFEAT AN ENTRENCHED FORCE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED ANTI-IRAQI AND FOREIGN FIGHTERS IN THE CITY OF FALLUJAH. ACTING AS THE MAIN EFFORT COMPANY COMMANDER FOR THE ATTACK INTO FALLUJAH ON 9 NOVEMBER 2004 DURING OPERATION PHANTOM FURY, A/2-2 INFANTRY UNDER CAPTAIN SIMS COMMAND EXECUTED A DYNAMIC BREACH AND CONDUCTED OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS FOR 45 STRAIGHT HOURS TO DESTROY THE AIF DEFENSES AND TO OPEN THE CITY FOR FOLLOW-ON FORCES. CAPTAIN SIMSS PERSONAL BRAVERY, COURAGE UNDER FIRE AND FEARLESS LEADERSHIP WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFEAT OF THE HEART OF THE ANTI-IRAQI FORCES AND THE RAPID COLLAPSE OF THEIR DEFENSIVE POSITIONS. CAPTAIN SIMSS DEDICATION TO HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS ON THE BATTLEFIELD UPHOLDS THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, TASK FORCE DANGER AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

First hand account of Fallujah link here