Michael D. Anderson Jr., 21

I met Michael in the summer of 1999. He was a friend of a friend, and all the girls were crazy about him. He was always cracking jokes and smiling. In 2005 I visited the memorial set up in Capitol Park in Sacramento. It was hard to face the finality of war. The world loss a beautiful soul, and many people think about and miss him every day. It saddens me to think that he won't have the opportunity to grow old and let what seems like the entire city of Modesto tell him how much he meant to everyone who had the fortune of being in his presence.

Micheal and I never got to spend much time togther. He lived in California and I lived in North Carolina. As a child we played a lot. I remember him always riding his skate board. He was very athletic.I really wish that I could have flown to California for his service but I was 7 months pregnant. Michael we miss and love you with all we have and you will always hold a place in our hearts. love you cuz SaraAnn Bryant

I never met Corporal Anderson, but I heard of his passing when I was stationed in Falujah, Iraq in the winter of 2004. To be in Iraq and talk to the comrades of Michael while waiting in line at the phone center was a day I'll never forget... A group of Marines walk in, most likely infantry, by the looks of their heavily damaged desert utilities covered with blood stains... I ask how they were doing, they tell me about their friend, their fellow Marine... someone who was about the same age as me (21 at the time, 26 now), same rank as me, same hometown as me was k.i.a. That day was a really sad day for me. My deepest condolences to Michael's family. May he rest in peace, he will never be forgotten.