Remer Soldier Dies Fulfilling Dream to Serve

REMER, Minn. - A man destined to fulfill a dream is how Northland High school Principal Joseph Akre is remembering Specialist George Cauley.

“Throughout his time here, all he really talked about was joining the military. That was his dream and his goal, and he accomplished that,” Principal Akre said.  

Akre said Specialist Cauley was very patriotic and believed in serving his country.

“That’s truly what he endeavored to do,” he said.

The patriotic spirit of Specialist George Cauley can be seen everywhere in the small town of Remer where residents are mourning the loss of a man many say was made for the military.

“He was the type of kid who would have given you the shirt off his back. He put his heart into everything he did,” Cauley’s former football coach Shem Daugherty said.

The 24-year-old grew up and graduated in the small town of Remer, now full of folks like Shem Daugherty who never got to say goodbye.

“The unfortunate thing is, in situations like this, you don’t get to say anything to him in the end,” he said.

Although small in stature, Daugherty says Specialist Cauley was big in heart, which showed on the field when he went out for football his senior year.

“He wasn’t exactly the tallest guy but again what we’ve said again and again over the day is what he may have lacked in height, he sure had in heart and in his desire to come out and play,” Daugherty said.

Also with a strong desire to serve our country, it’s clear Specialist Cauley followed his calling to the very end.

“He cared for this country. He cared for the folks he was working with on the day he was attacked,” Daugherty said.  “My only sadness comes from the fact he’s not going to be able to grow into an older man and provide that and teach other people how to be like he was,” Daugherty said.

Written for the web by Megan Brown

mbrown@ksax.com