Stryker Brigade News

To the family and loved ones of SGT Christopher A. Sanders: "I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom".....Abraham Lincoln.
It is with the deepest sorrow that I extend my condolences upon the loss of your Hero, who paid the ultimate price in the fight for freedom for the Iraqi people, and in the defense of his brothers and our grateful nation. Sgt. Sanders will not be forgotten, and you will be remembered in my prayers. Proud father of a G Co 3-2SCR Stryker. gdb626@hotmail.com

May God grant you peace, grace and strength. Thank you for your sacrifice. As a mom of a stryker soldier there now; know that my heart goes out to you. I am sorry; so very sorry for your loss.

I am very sorry for the loss of this fine young man and HERO SGT Christopher A. Sanders.

I pray the family, friends and fellow soldiers will be guided by a higher power to give you all peace, comfort and strength in this time.

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit
GOD Bless you and your family. Your soldier was a true American Hero and we are all very proud of his service. He will not be forgotten!

Gale Poindexter
(Proud mother of Sgt Joel W. Lewis, 5/20, 3-2 SBCT /Ft Lewis
KIA 5/ 6/07, Baqubah, Iraq)

I'm so sorry for your loss.
Our thoughts and prays our with you. Stryker mom with a son in Iraq.
Gayle Douce
Proud mom of Spc Timothy Douce

Dearest Dara, Kelly, Marie, Mr. Rodriguez, Chris' son, Chris' comrads and other friends and family of Chris Sanders,

My heart is heavy with sadness for you and for the families, friends and comrads of the many young men that bravely went to war and lost their lives together on January 9, 2008.

My own son, SGT. Robert T. Ayres, was one of Chris' best friends and was killed on September 29, 2007.

Chris was such a comfort to me when my son was killed. Chris wrote that he was sad not to be able to be with his friend. At least, "not for a little while."

If it's any comfort to you, I've never doubted for one second that Robert is in a good place. I have always felt Roberts spirit nearby and full of Joy. The boys have just closed their eyes for a moment and when they opened them again, they were in Glory.

The boys aren't sad for us. They know that we will all be together again in the blink of an eye.

I'm crying now for Chris' family. I cry for myself sometimes because I miss my son. But our boys will never know another moment of sadness, lonliness or pain. They are alive in the Heart of God and just a whisper, a twinkle away from us in the present.

Again, I know my son, my family and I support the brave men and women that Chris and Robert left behind to carry on the good fight. Please find courage in their lives and take your righful share in the Glory of their heroic passing.

God Bless You. Please favor me by letting me know if there is anything I might do for any of you. When I'm able to do anything for one of Roberts friends, my son ives and my heart sings.

Sincerely and with much Aloha, Michelle Ayres, SGT Robert Ayres mom.

Words fail me after reading that.. all I can do is pray for you all..

Our heartfelt prayers go out to the family and friends of SGT Sanders. Our son is with the 3/2 from Vilseck also and I cannot express to how sorry we are that he has lost a brother in arms. I cannot write anymore, words cannot fully express my sorrow and sympathy for you all.

Please accept our prayers and condolences for you loss. May God comfort you until you meet again.
John and Joan Mikluscak
Parents of Pvt2 Zachary John Mikluscak 2/25 SBCT Taji Iraq

I served with Chris on his first tour in Iraq.1st platoon Alpha Co. 1-24. He was a motivated soldier who had a strong will to fight for his country and fellow infantryman. I miss talking with him about weapons. He had a love for firearms. I loved him for it. Our country lost a good soldier. Chris loved being an infantryman. I will be praying for his family.
Paul (Sgt.Farmer)

I would like to thank the family of SGT. Chris Sanders for his sacrifice and will to fight for our country. Nothing we do to commemorate him and other fine men and women who have lost their lives in combat will amount to their sacrifices and duty. I feel as proud of Chris as I do for my brother STG. Robert T. Ayres III whom was killed last year in semp. I would like the family to know that I had the privilege no, the honor to chat to their brave soldier before he went back to Iraq. He talked about the days he had spent with my brother and times in combat. I emailed to him my phone # but I never heard back. I didn't know he was leaving again tell my mom called me last thus. morning to inform. I wish I could have met chris as much as I wish I could have met my bro before he passed away. If the family would please send me an email I would really appreciate it.

Thaks again aaron

To family, friends and fellow soldiers, may God give you strength. Chris will always be remembered! Rest in peace young SGT, with those who have gone before you.
Sincere respect and gratitude for keeping my family and me safe.
Linda
Joe's Stryker Mom

Our family appreciates all the love and support that we are receiving on the loss of our beloved son, Sgt Chris Sanders. It was an honor and a blessing to have Christopher in our lives. We were always so proud of the conviction and pride he took in serving his country. Our hearts will have a void for the rest of our lives with his loss. He always lived his life to the fullest and met most of his life goals at an early age. As we struggle with our grief we remind ourselves that Chris would have been honored to die serving his country. Please remember our soldiers and never let their sacrifices be forgotten. Rest in Peace our Beloved Son.
The Sanders and Akin Family
(Kelly, Marie, Michael, Dara, Alec, Jacquelyn, Beth and Larry)
We may be reached at marie_mck1@yahoo.com or the attached email address

To the Sanders family:

You had one "extraordinary son and soldier". Chris had served with my son in Iraq from October 2004-2005. When my son told me that Chris had been redeployed to Iraq I sent him care packages and words of encouragement because I was so proud of your fine son and soldier.

Please know that our family's arms are around you and you will be in our everyday prayers.

Sincerely,
Penny Everhart

God must have a very special mission for He has called six very special HEROS to join the ranks of His Army. Go with God, SGT Christopher Sanders, for your mission on earth is complete. Your entire Stryker family, especially your Deuce Four family, and your 2SCR family are sharing the pain felt by your family, friends and fellow soldiers. Your sacrifice will live with us for a lifetime, and we will honor your memory. May God grant peace and comfort to your loved ones, and fellow soldiers, and may the knowledge that so many are mourning with them give them the strength that they will need as they travel this most difficult path without you by their side.

Dara, Kelly, Marie, you guys were so blessed to have him in your lives, and I feel blessed to have had him apart of mine for the time Dara, Josh , me and chris spent together, you all will always be in my thoughts and prayers forever, and I will think about him daily as I am reminded with the freedoms I have each day that he has helped insure that we have, and will always have with men like him defending this country and paying the ultimate sacrifice that I know he was so willing to pay to fight for his country, thank you for raising such a wonderful man, soldier, father, husband and friend

To the family of Sgt. Chris Sanders... Please know that it is with a heavy heart I visit this site tonight. I thought the last time I logged in to read my brothers page would be the last time I logged in. I know no words can help you though your grief right now but please know you son/bother/husband/father is walking with you on this path. He is with you when you wake in the morning. He with you when you sleep. His arms are around you as you grieve. Stand strong through this difficult time knowing that he is by your side. Sometimes our words and actions are not our own and the pain can be overwhelming but as I write this I am reminded of you sons words "it is the way any true infantry man would want to die," but somehow it always seems to soon. You would want just one more time to talk to him. My prayers are with the family and friends of Chris. He fights in heavens army now.

To the family of Sgt. Chris Sanders... Please know that it is with a heavy heart I visit this site tonight. I thought the last time I logged in to read my brothers page would be the last time I logged in. I know no words can help you though your grief right now but please know you son/bother/husband/father is walking with you on this path. He is with you when you wake in the morning. He with you when you sleep. His arms are around you as you grieve. Stand strong through this difficult time knowing that he is by your side. Sometimes our words and actions are not our own and the pain can be overwhelming but as I write this I am reminded of you sons words "it is the way any true infantry man would want to die," but somehow it always seems to soon. You would want just one more time to talk to him. My prayers are with the family and friends of Chris. He fights in heavens army now.

To the family of Sgt. Chris Sanders... Please know that it is with a heavy heart I visit this site tonight. I thought the last time I logged in to read my brothers page would be the last time I logged in. I know no words can help you though your grief right now but please know you son/bother/husband/father is walking with you on this path. He is with you when you wake in the morning. He with you when you sleep. His arms are around you as you grieve. Stand strong through this difficult time knowing that he is by your side. Sometimes our words and actions are not our own and the pain can be overwhelming but as I write this I am reminded of you sons words "it is the way any true infantry man would want to die," but somehow it always seems to soon. You would want just one more time to talk to him. My prayers are with the family and friends of Chris. He fights in heavens army now.

I was Rob Ayres and Chris Sanders first Squad Leader when they come to Fort Lewis in 2003. They performed exceptionally well in OIF 3 and were passing that knowledge and experience onto their new "charges". I remember CHris as a skinny young man who always asked questions. He applied those answers to leadership style.

TO the family of Chris Sanders. May the Lord Bless and Keep all the days of your life.

SFC Timothy Schmidt
Duece Four