Nicholas P. Steinbacher, 22

Nick, I never knew you but I know you are with my son, Chris. I know your mom and she has made me laugh and cry with the stories she has shared and the love your family has for you. Another friend, Dawn (her son is Ian)and I met with your mom a few weeks ago and hiked in the park that has trees in your memory. We laughed, cried and toasted you and our sons. This Memorial Day holds a special place for us, one we never thought we'd share. Just know you are in our hearts. I smile when I see your picture, I can just see mischief forming behind that laugh.

Jennifer - From Lancaster, Ca

I Will Soar Again

With my back turned, you betrayed me
on a quiet peaceful day.

Then suddenly, without warning,
your attack was upon me.

All the feathers that have fallen
can never be replaced.

But of the ones that still remain,
have strength to honor their space.

For now, I wait. I watch. I heal.
With pride you could not contain.

For the one thing that is certain,
with courage!.I WILL soar again!

Nick, thank you for being the best friend a man could ever have. I miss you so much, and looking back at the past well bud i can tell you the future so far is boring without you with us. I tell our story constantly about emersom and for those who know it if they read this posting they will laugh. Maria and I talk about you constantly and laugh and cry. I want you to know that when i find myself in a situation i'm not sure of or don't know what to do i seriously ask myself " what would nick do?" I finally got to meet your Mom and Dad a few months back and they are the two most strongest people and loving people i have ever met in the world. Nick you mean the world to me big guy and i will always pray to you and keep you in my mind. I LOVE YOU NICK YOUR THE MAN.

This was something I took from my blog that I wrote for Nick. He was a great soldier and an even better friend.

---------------------------------
Good soldiers don't die
They just earn their wings early
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If I had one wish
Id take your place
it would be me walking
to those pearly gates
i feel guilty
i'm here and you're gone
it makes me toss and turn
all night long

but don't worry my friend
i'd never forget
and all these candles
for you, are lit

we'll remember you
and all the wild nights
you were always first
to break up the fights

you always knew
it was about having fun
but when we soldiered, we soldiered
and went out with our guns
into the night we rode
destination unknown
little did we know
you wouldn't make it home.

I wish I could turn back the hands of time.
If it had to be you, I'd want to say goodbye.

Yes im retired cpl.Dortrie Jones i served with Nick in B co 2-5 Cav and nick was the best guy you can hope for to be around and wat an jokster he was lol but on that night we all lost Nick aka the pink panther I was the First to get injured due to an bomb in the road and i stepped out of my vehicle and stood up and gave everyone the thumbs up that i was ok and when i stepped thats when some of my right leg seperated from me and i fell and moved an little ways from the vehicle and thats when the first thing i saw was nick baseball slide to me and told me everything is ok and he talked to me and asked me how was my son doing and he kept me talking while i put on my tourniket and it broke on me and Nick got his and put his on me and we joked still even though i was in pain but i refused to let them know i was really hurting that badly but we laughed and joked and still cracked jokes about everyone and then i was soon taken away from my guys to recieve tretement but i never thought that that would be the last time i saw NIck and later on i found out he died in da line of duty by another ebomb just an couple of yards from mines and i fell to pieces and i never got to thank Nick for being there for me when it really counted but the memories i have of and with Nick will live on through all my life and my prayers to his mom, dad and family. But Nick was the go to guy always there when u needed to talk or an good laugh and dats how ill remember him as my brother from another mother an father but i do miss him and our othere brothers who sacrificed it all with out even hesitateing an second i love yall your brother jones

Nick Steinbacher was one of my best friends. I had the opportunity of meeting him at College of the Canyons in 2004. When you go through life you have many friends but only a select few of them will stay with you for the rest of your life. Nick was one of those friends that I wanted to keep in my life forever. He was an absolutely amazing person. Nick knew who he was and he knew what he stood for. There was no weakness in Nick, he stood by what he believed in and led by example. He was loyal to his friends, and I could count on him for anything.

Nick, I miss you... I can still see you walking into class late. I can still see you sitting behind me. I can still see us laughing and causing as much trouble as we possibly could. I can still see us working out together at my house. I can still see the times we ate dinner with your family. I can still see us in your room doing the push up contest. I can still see the many times we went out for sushi during the last two and half years. I can still hear and see all the crazy events that I got to share with you. I can still hear your voice; I can still see that classic smile of yours......

I miss you Nick. I think about you everyday. I will never forget you. I will see you again.

-Ray Bennette

My son, Edwin Lamour Jr. served with Nick in the B Co. 2-5 Cav in Iraq. I did not have the honor of meeting Nick but I have cried with my son as he also cries over the loss of his "good friend and brother". My son is now in the hospital and in very bad condition and constantly speaks of his brothers West and Nick whom he will never see again. Last Wednesday at his latest hospitalization my son told me that he had survived the IED which he stepped on because his buddies had "wrapped their wings" around him and absorbed the blast. I also believe that is the reason my son was able to come back. Thanks to you Nick and to your family for such a fine human being. You are missed.
elamour@yahoo.com

Nick,

here i am again back overhere, and everyday memories of u play in my mind, west also. your dearly missed. u were more than a soldier in acu's, u were a good friend to all of us in B co. just please watch over all of us while we fight the fight in ur memory. see u on the flip side. oh and dont think i forgot about the doritos bag, that was the funniest. you know wut i am talkin about. take care brother.

SPC. Saulter, Jeremy

I want to say - thank you for this!

Incredible site!

Thanks

I grew up in La Crescenta and went to the same high school(many years earlier) as this brave young man and also served in the USMC. My deepest sympathies go out to his family and loved ones. God Bless you.

Nick! We miss you. You brightened our lives with your presence through the years and we still think of you and your family often. You were doing what you thought best and we are proud of you. Thank you for the good memories and your service.

Nicholas, Today was your birthday you would have been 26 years old, your little brother just turned 22 two days ago. And the world that we new stop two days from now when those soldiers came to our door early that Sunday morning, it was still dark, my alarm had not even gone off yet for me to get up to go to work at the fire station. Mom and I new what a early door bell ring could mean. She said Oh my God no, I told her maybe it was just our neighbor. And you know how crazy Ginger is when someone comes to the door and wont stop barking. Then we saw the two figures through the glass, my heart sank to my stomach, Mom and I could only hold each other. I didn't even hear what they said, after they told us that you were killed in action by IED. You had just emailed me the day before, maybe it was a mistake, were they sure it was you. It had been only six weeks, that you were over there. The night before, the news came on and they said we had lost two soldiers too Ied's that day. I felt sick and said I am not going to listen to this, so I turn it off and went to bed. This was not suppose to happen. You were so full of life, living every minute to the max. Like you said on your myspace page, "you try to have fun in everything you do even it's Army work." A lot of people use to visit your myspace page, but not so much any more. Maybe because it's been 4 years, a life time for us. I hope they haven't forgotten you already or they mite just be on facebook instead. I know that for those who ever met you or really new you will never forget, you were just that kind of person. Your Mom and I are so proud of you, and what a thoughtful son you were. It's different now and we just miss you so much. LOVE YOU SON

Paul,

We have not forgotten. No one who knew Nick has or will. It's been 4 years to the day since Nick was taken, and I thank God every time I think of Nick that he has parents like you who keep his memory alive. And yet for those of us who knew him, we need no assistance in this remembrance as Nick will continue to live in the memories he created for each of us. My brother once wrote, "Like ships built for sailing, we are built to live." May you find some peace today in the knowledge that your son not only lived, but lived life to its fullest. In doing so, he made a difference to so many of us who knew him, or, as evidenced by the comments above, served with him. God bless you and your family this day and this sacred season.

I don't know this soldiers as I'm just visiting the website. I thank him and his family for his dedication to our county. Thank you for keeping America free and protecting our beliefs. It's because heroes like you my very young daughter will be able to live freely in this wonderful country. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Many your memory never be forgotten. RIP

I grew up with both Nick and Kirk throughout school, I was in Kirk's grade but I was around Nick during the few times he was in school with us. Nick's death was a tragic loss to the La Crescenta community as well as to his family and friends. Nick, even though I didn't know you as well as everyone else did, I am still deeply sadden by your death. I am still upset that I missed your funeral because I was in another state. I wish I could have known you better because you were truely an amazing young man. You are still in my thoughts and prayers, I still grieve for you. Thank you for risking your life for your country and to protect the people in it. Rest in peace Nick.

I went to school with his father. We never forget the loss of a loved one. I lost three brothers--and although not my kids--not a day goes by without thinking of them.

My heart goes out to Paul and his family. In death we become immortal and live life forever as memories of good times. Nick's life and brave service will never be forgotten.

I didn't know Nick. What I have in common with him is graduating from CV (1995) and going to war. Iraq and Afghanistan. I found this after reading that the US military has offically ceased operations in Iraq. I felt compeled to see how my old high school faired through ten years of war. I'm sorry for his loss but I know that no words of mine can ever ease the suffering that everyday brings in its own unique and pwerful way. It's not during the fight that you're scared, it's afterwards. When you have time to think. When I looked at pictures of my girls and thought to myself "How many more times is it going to turn out ok?" But I feel that Nick was much the same as any good Soldier. You're there to the job that you volunteered to do, were trained to do, paid to do and most of all, believed in. He was professional and a better man then many of his generation. For that, while I mourn his loss, I also commend his service. A Man among Men. a fellow Warrior.

Not a whole lot of words can explain how distant a person I am to you But our service in army brings us close, our town and high school even closer.The sacrifice you and your family have made are recognized by me as the ultimate, God bless you and Nick and ill keep up the good fight down here.
SGT Daniel Serna OIF 05-06