David P. Casey was born in Ireland in 1842 and joined the union Army from Northbridge, MA. He served in the 25th Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil War under General U. S. Grant. He received the medal of Honor for his heroic actions at the battle of Cold Harbor, VA. He was taken prisoner of war. He died on January 3, 1893 and is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Northbridge, MA.

From May 31 to June 12, 1864, General U. S. Grant launched an assault against a well entrenched Confederate force led by General R. E. Lee at Cold Harbor, Virginia. During the first few days three days the Union forces repeatedly made a frontal assault on Lee's position only to be repelled. Overall the Union forced has over 13,000 casualties to the Confederated 1,700.

On June 3, 1864, during the fiercest assault of the battle at Cold Harbor, two color bearers of the 25th Massachusetts were killed, one right after the other. The latter was killed right in front of the Confederate lines, far in advance of the his regiment's position. Under a withering enemy fire, Private David P. Casey prevented the flag from falling into enemy hands. He ran forward to recover the body of the dead color bearer, secure the flag, and return with it to his own lines. He was one of eight men awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism at Cold harbor that day.

His Medal of Honor citation reads:

CASEY, DAVID

Rank and Organization: Private, Company C, 25th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and Date: At Cold Harbor, Va., 3 June 1864. Entered Service At: Northbridge, Mass. Birth: Ireland. Date of Issue: 14 September 1888.

Citation:

Two color bearers having been shot dead one after the other, the last one far in advance of his regiment and close to the enemy's line, this soldier rushed forward, and, under a galling fire, after removing the dead body of the bearer therefrom, secured the flag and returned with it to the Union lines.

A 4' high granite tablet in Whitinsville Town Common honors Private David P. Casey. It is inscribed with the image of the Medal of Honor and the following text:

MEDAL OF HONOR DAVID P. CASEY PVT. USA CO C 25TH MASS VOLS FOR HEROISM AND GALLANTRY UNDER ENEMY FIRE SAVED THE FLAG COLD HARBOR, VA JUNE 3, 1864

David Casey