Paul Dengelegi

Dr. Paul Dengelegi (born March 15, 1963) is an American author and prosthodontist. He wrote two authorized volumes in the Casca series of novels following the death of creator Barry Sadler. Dengelegi wrote two books in the series (Casca 23: The Liberator published 1999 and Casca 24: The Defiant published 2001) before being replaced by Tony Roberts in 2005.
Casca was first introduced in Casca #1 The Eternal Mercenary. In the years leading up to the fateful moment, little is known except for the odd tantalizing clues in some of the novels. He spent most of his adult life serving the Roman empire in the Legions, and there are some scraps of information about his family. He grew up in the hill country of Etruria, now known as Tuscany, to the north of Rome. The village name was Falerno. When he was a child, he saw the 10th Legion march through his village en route to Gaul. His uncle, Tontine, enlisted into the army under Julius Caesar. His family died of plague and the young Casca burned the family home as a result. He enlisted into the 7th Legion at either Messilia or Livorno. His first battle under the eagle of the 7th was on the German border against the Suevii when 15,000 tribesmen attacked them at dawn. Only 300 made it back into the forests of Germania. He joined the 10th Legion and was sent to Jerusalem where he was assigned to the execution detail for three prisoners, amongst whom was Jesus.
At Golgotha, Casca stabs Jesus with his spear, in an attempt to relieve Jesus of his pain and suffering. Jesus condemns Casca by saying: Soldier, you are content with what you are. Then that you shall remain until we meet again. As I go now to my father, you must one day come to me". Casca did not initially understand what had happened to him until he was condemned to work in labor mines over a 30 year period. There he slowly discovers that he does not age and cannot be killed or seriously wounded. He learns that he is immortal, although he can feel all pain inflicted on his person.
Casca possesses an affinity for spoken languages. He can master most languages that he comes in contact with, including their various dialects, colloquialisms, and sub-tongues. Casca is also superbly skilled in edged weapons. He was first trained as a Roman Legionnaire with the Gladius Iberius sword. He later improved those skills while as a Gladiator in the Arena. Throughout history Casca has mastered the use of most edged weapons in actual combat.
Casca is easily recognizable by the long facial scar that he possessed. It runs from the side of his eye to his mouth in a crescent shape, giving him a permanent sneer. Casca acquired the scar while trying to shortchange a local prostitute while in the Holy Land, who didn't take kindly to not being paid for services rendered. Over the years many onlookers assume that Casca received the wound while in brave battle; to which Casca just chuckles thinking "If they only knew".
Casca 1: The Eternal Mercenary (1979): During the Viet Nam War, Dr. Julius Goldman discovers that Casey Romain is actually Casca Longius, a 2000 year old Roman solidier cursed with immorality by Jesus Christ.
Casca 2: God of Death (1979): In Mexico during the 3rd century AD, Casca is declared a god by the Teotec Indians, and defends them from an attack by the Olmecs.
Casca 3: The War Lord (1980): Casca travels to 3rd century Byzantium and China, where he is buried alive by a jealous empress.
Casca 4: Panzer Soldier (1980): Casca fights for the Germans at the Battle of Kursk, and later meets Hitler.
Casca 5: The Barbarian(1981): Casca deserts the Roman Legion in the 2nd century AD, and becomes a member of a Germanic tribe.
Casca 6: The Persian (1982): Casca becomes a commander in the army of Persian king Shapur II, but is burned at the stake when he is branded a heretic.
Casca 7: The Damned (1982): Casca returns to the Roman Empire in time to see Rome fall to the Visigoths, then joins the fight against Atilla the Hun at the Battle of the Catalunian Plains in 451.
Casca 8: Soldier of Fortune (1983): Casca serves as a mercenary based in 1976 Singapore.
Casca 9: The Sentinel (1983): After sleeping in an ice cave for 80 years, Casca travels to the Eastern Roman Empire to fight against the Vandals in AD 534.
Casca 10: The Conquistador (1984): Casca escapes from a 16th century Spanish prison and travels to the New World with Hernán Cortés.
Casca 11: The Legionnaire (1984): At the end of World War II, Casca is captured by the French and drafted into the French Foreign Legion. He is eventually sent to French Indochina, where he fights in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
Casca 12: African Mercenary (1984): In 1977, Casca is sent on a mission to kill an African dictator, but is betrayed by his allies.
Casca 13: The Assassin (1985): In the 11th century, Casca is captured by Arab slave traders, and is inducted into the secret sect of the Hashshashin.
Casca 14: The Phoenix (1985): Casca, on a mission to stop a Viet Cong assassination squad, is captured by the North Vietnamese. He escapes, but is badly wounded and taken to a US Army field hospital. This is a prequel to the first Casca novel.
Casca 15: The Pirate (1985): In 1718, Casca sails to the Caribbean to escape arrest. There he becomes involved with pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard.
Casca 16: Desert Mercenary (1986): Casca and his friend Gus work as mercenaries during the Algerian War.
Casca 17: The Warrior (1987): In the late 1860s, Casca sails the South Pacific, where he saves a small island village from a local warlord.
Casca 18: The Cursed (1987): Casca joins the British Army in 1899, but deserts to the Chinese side and joins the Boxer Rebellion.
Casca 19: The Samurai (1988): Casca is rescued off the coast of Japan in 1184, and later fights in the Battle of Dan-no-ura.
Casca 20: Soldier of Gideon (1988): Casca joins the Israeli Army and fights in the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War.
Casca 21: The Trench Soldier (1989): Casco fights with the British Army during the early days of World War I.
Casca 22: The Mongol (1990): Casca is rescued by a young Mongol warrior named Temujin. Casca teaches the young man the art of war, which allows him to conquer and unite the local tribes into a mighty army. Now calling himself Genghis Khan, Temujin sets his sights on the West.
Casca 23: The Liberator (1999): When the ship carrying Casca is sunk, he spends six years at the bottom of the ocean until he is rescued by African fishermen. They worship him as a god, and ask him to free their people from the rule of a tyrant.
Casca 24: The Defiant (2001): Casca saves the life of young Marco Polo and joins him on his journey to the court of Kublai Khan.
Casca 25: Halls of Montezuma (2006): Casca arrives in America in the 1840s. When war with Mexico breaks out he joins the US Army and helps take the fortress of Chapultepec outside Mexico City.
Casca 26: Johnny Reb (2007): Casca fights for the South during the American Civil War.
Casca 27: The Confederate (2008): During the American Civil War, Casca must face threats both from the North and the Brotherhood.
Casca 28: The Avenger (2008): Casca returns to the Eastern Roman Empire in the 6th century, to get revenge against the Brotherhood, and takes part in the Battle of Taginae.
Casca 29: Immortal Dragon (2008): Casca is pulled out of hiding in 2008, and takes part in an anti-terrorist campaign in Pakistan and India.
Casca 30: Napoleon's Soldier (2009): Casca joins Napoleon's Grand Armee and participates in the 1812 French invasion of Russia.
Casca 31: The Conqueror (2009): Casca enlists in the army of William of Normandy and takes part in the Battle of Hastings.
Deneglegi was also dentist in Fairfield, Connecticut. He surrendered his license to practice,after developing a drug problem which led to his being convicted of excessive drug use and over prescribing to three of his patients. He was sentenced to three years in prison and served eighteen months. The prosecuter described him as "a purveyor of death and addiction, " in a hyperbolic closing arguement. Dengelegi's own lawyer characterized him as a good man who succumbed to drug addiction. Currently, Dengelegi is back to writing about his prison experiences and his continuing his work on Casca and other novels.

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