Michael M. Rojas was born on March 1, 1986 in Fresno, California. Growing up, he was an active, independent boy who enjoyed sports, starting T-ball at age 4, and even asking to iron his own clothes when he was 5. Mike was the only boy in a family of four girls (Michelle 27, Melissa 26, Marissa 15, Samantha 10), and was affectionately known as "Papa." His older sister Melissa explained, "When Michael was growing up he was always a lil' daddy to his little sisters, feeding, playing, and down to changing diapers. So, every year he always received a Father's Day gift until this day." Mike was well-loved for his playful, joking nature. He was always making his sisters laugh by acting goofy, but was also there to lend a helping hand when they needed him. Marissa, "This is one of my favorite memories: in 1999 he was babysitting me, we heard the ice cream truck outside so I ran out there while he was walking behind me. I stubbed my toe and also got a little pebble stuck in it. He was really quick to bring me inside, and the next thing you know he had me sitting up on the kitchen table with tweezers and a needle taking it out. I really don't like needles, but the talking and relationship we had calmed me down, that's how well he took care of me. At times, when we are in his room doing nothing, he would take me to go get ice cream, Panda Express (Chinese food), or we would just order Me 'n' Ed's pizza. No matter what it was about, he always was a great brother to talk to." He continued playing baseball through Junior High School, and started football in his Freshman year at Clovis East High School in Fresno, where he played two years on the varsity team as a Cornerback. He enjoyed playing PlayStation NCAA football with his close friends. During high school and perhaps even earlier, he was interested in the military. His biological father and grandfather served, and Mike made plans to enlist while still in high school. Melissa recalled, "He started to tell Mom he wanted to make a difference, he was against gangs and drugs. He wanted to make a difference and then finally said, 'I wanna join the Army.' He always respected people in uniform. Of course, we all tried talking him out of it and then my mom told him, 'Why son? Why would you want to go during this time of war?' Michael said, 'I could be walking across the street and get hit by a car, you never know what's going to happen. It will be okay.'... when he turned 18, he enlisted. Mom then asked his recruiter, 'Is my son going to Iraq?' He then crossed his arms and said, 'Ma'am. Yes.' Papa went to boot camp in Oklahoma, and then got stationed in Fort Lewis, WA. He was stationed there in WA, for almost 2 years." While at Fort Lewis, Mike met the woman who would become his wife, Katrina. She describes how they met: Mike and I actually met on Myspace. A very good friend of mine is married to another soldier in his unit. Mike was looking at Bryon's page one day and saw me. He sent me an email saying, "hey this is Rush's friend Mike and if you're not too cool you should give me your number." I kind of laughed about it at first but I gave him my number. We played phone tag for a couple days and then on October 30, 2005, I decided to have some people over to watch scary movies since it was the day before Halloween. Mike came with Bryon. When our eyes first met I knew right away that we would be together. It was just like this shock ran down my entire body. We probably exchanged 10 words that night. At one point, another one of my friends pushed him into my kitchen after me and he just leaned back against the counter and said, "Well, I don't know what to say to you." I told my mom after they left that I would marry him and I just knew it. This is coming from a 20 year old so of course my mother just kind of rolled her eyes. We were tricked into seeing each other the next night by the same couple. My friend called and said we're going to see a movie and Mike really wants you to go. Mike's friend Bryon did the same to Mike. We both agreed to go. We went on our first official date 3 days later. He called me every night and asked me to go out and I said no. I was sick! I had pneumonia. On the 3rd phone call he said, "I'm not calling you anymore if you say no." and I said, "Don't give up on me Mikey." We met at Red Robin and then walked the mall after. We became an "official" couple on November 12. We instantly began talking about getting married. It was really love at first sight for both of us. He went to California for 12 days to visit his family for Christmas. I picked him up from the airport and he asked if we could go to Seattle that night. Mike loved Seattle. On the drive up to Seattle he was very quiet. He hardly spoke at all. He did ask one question and I wish I could remember what he exactly asked but I remember my answer was, "Mike, I'd say yes" and he just smiled and held my hand. We had planned to go on a horse-drawn carriage ride but it started to rain so we decided to go to the Space Needle. It was closed because they were getting ready for the fireworks on New Years. We decided to go to Benihana. It is my all time favorite restaurant. We had about a half hour wait, so Mike asked if I would go outside with him. NO WAY! It's raining but he convinced me anyways, saying that he needed to use the ATM. We got outside and he just started pacing. He called me over to him and I wrapped my arms around him and the next thing I knew he was down on one knee with an open ring box with the most beautiful ring in it. He asked me to marry him and I jumped about 3 feet back and yelled "You're doing it NOW????" We had discussed getting engaged in April. I said yes and we ran back to the car to call our families and tell them the news. Everyone was really excited. He deployed on June 27 and came home for R&R on Sept. 1. He chose to take leave early because he wanted to get married. We both just wanted to have that forever with each other no matter what happened. We applied for our marriage license, called to set up a time to do it, and then canceled. On September 9 we woke up at 9. I looked at him, told him I loved him and that I wanted to be his wife. We were married at noon that day. Our official wedding was supposed to take place on September 15 of this year. We spent 11 wonderful days together and then he left again. Mike returned to his Stryker Brigade in Iraq, but kept in close contact with Katrina and his family. He thought of them constantly while deployed and sent his younger sisters, Marissa and Samantha, little gifts. Even though communication was difficult, he was able to call Marissa on her birthday. This call was one of her most meaningful memories, "Ever since he left to Iraq, me and him didn't get to talk much. Whenever we talked, it had to be brief. I hated it. On my birthday, I had school but I was already a little late to class, and my phone rang as I was walking up the stairs to my class. It was some weird and long number. So I answered and kept saying, "hello?" There was no answer so I waited for a few seconds, the next thing you know he said, "Nana?" I got so excited! Then I answered back, "yeah!" He said, "Happy Birthday!" That had to best the birthday call ever! We talked for a little while longer as he was talking about the job he was doing and how hot it was over there. The conversation went by so fast, the next thing you know he had to go. He could tell in my voice that I started getting choked up and wanted to cry. He told me not to cry, it's my birthday, to go have fun. He told me he loved me as I did the same and we hung up. But after we hung up, I really wasn't sad because I knew he was coming home. But that never came." On April 17, 2007, Mike called home and said he was going out on another mission. He told them his allergies were acting up and would call them as soon as they got in. The next morning, Melissa and her mother went to purchase Claritin and eyedrops for Mike. Later that afternoon, they were informed that Mike and CPL Wade J. Oglesby had been killed in Taji, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. His fellow soldiers called that night to tell the family what had happened. Katrina said, "I'm holding in there as best as I can because I know that I'm going to see Mike again and that we'll be together again. I'm a Christian and Mike was a Christian and I know he'll be there waiting for me in heaven. I'm proud of my husband. I'm absolutely proud of him. He's my hero. I will always be completely in love with him."From Marissa, "The only thing that keeps my head up is knowing that he's in a beautiful place looking down at all of us smiling. I just can't wait until I see him again at those gates with a huge smile on his face welcoming us home. I love Michael and miss him terribly but I know for a fact I will see him again someday." On April 24, 2007 California flags were flown at half-staff in honor of Mike. Since Mike's death, the love that has been shown for this courageous soldier has been overwhelming. Melissa mentioned, "All of his buddies in Iraq, they still keep in touch. They call every week and when they come home, they are coming to Fresno to see all of us. We grew up with 1 brother our whole life, and now our Michael has blessed us with several brothers that we see and talk to daily, here, all his close friends, and all his brothers in Iraq." One of his high school friends, Carmalina, set up a Myspace profile for Mike where many of his friends and fellow soldiers have left messages for him. The following comments have been left for Mike. "Mikey we miss you so much, u are always in our thoughts and there is not one day we don't talk about all the great memories we had with you. We love you and miss you. Our HERO forever and Always." "I miss u Mike. It's been 3 months and I've been thinking about u everyday. U will never be forgotten and u will always be in our hearts. See u in my dreams bro. I love u." "Mike there has not been one day that I have not had you on my mind! And now it's been three months. I miss you sooo much. I see you in my dreams, and it always seems so real, and then I wake up and have to remember that you're gone. I miss you and can't wait to see you again!" "Mikey, it's been three months it still seems so empty without u, I just want you to know u are in our toughts EVERYday, and that's the truth we love you so much and I am very lucky to have met u and be close to u...we love you and will FOREVER be in our hearts... WE MISS YOU!!!!!" "I think about you everyday. But as I read my bible today, God made me smile when I thought of you. I realized how important it is to remember you are with him and in a better place, of course I would want you still here, but I realized I bet heaven is a beautiful place. I bet it's AMAZING. Everything God said it would be. So you are still inspiring me daily. Thank You." "Hey Bro, I miss u man! I think about u everyday. I wish u were still here!!! I know ur up there lookin' down on all your brothers!!! I love u man, I'll see u again someday!!!!" "Mike I love you and miss you alot bro!! It's days like today where I have time off that I think about the old times we had!! I want to thank you for protecting me out here, I have had some close calls and I know it was you by my side protecting me!! Talk to you soon, love you!!!"-from a soldier in Iraq. "Man, Mike I miss you so much. It's crazy how much I miss you Bro. But I know you are still here for me and all of us. I love you Bro keep us all safe and help us through everything we face."-from a soldier in Iraq. The messages for Mike are a testament to his character and the love that he had for others. Carmalina included this poem by Henry Scott Holland on the site: Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything has remained exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed, at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is death but negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well. LINKS TO CPL Mike Rojas 
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