His Star Has Turned From Blue to Gold

MANASSAS, Va. - Sean Cutsforth, who grew up in Manassas, Va., was a very athletic kid. His mother showed off a photograph she snapped years ago showing her young son sleeping in bed wearing a catcher's mask.

"It was new equipment," laughed Vickie Cutsforth, remembering that night. "He just wanted to try it on. He'd fall asleep with his new bats, everything."

On Wednesday, Vickie Cutsforth was visited by representatives of the U.S. Army bearing terrible news. Her 22-year-old son had been killed by small arms fire while on patrol in Eastern Afghanistan.

Sean received a baseball scholarship to Virginia Wesleyan College, but after three semesters, he announced to his family that he wanted to leave school to join the Army.

"He looked at all the services, met with recruiters and such. [Sean's] was a well thought-out decision," recalled Sean's father, Robert Cutsforth.

"He wanted to serve his country," agreed Sean's mom. "That's what we had to let him do."

Sean was assigned to the 101st Airborne, based in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He deployed to Afghanistan in February and was scheduled to return to the U.S. early next year.

Family members say Sean loved the Army and was considering making it a career. His family has asked that Sean Cutsforth be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The Army has agreed.

He is survived by his parents, his three siblings, and his wife Ashley, who, family members say, is pregnant.

By JOHN HENREHAN/myfoxdc

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SPC Cutsforth is a local hero. May Almighty God comfort his family.