WILLIAMS, Michael Jason (Corporal)

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Friday, April 11, 2003 Marine Lance Corporal Michael Jason Williams, beloved son of Sandy and Duffy Watson of Phoenix, AZ, Joseph and Honey Williams of Vacaville, CA. and Robert and Sandra Pennington of Yuma, AZ., was killed in action on March 23, 2003 in An Nasariyah, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mike was born on June 1, 1971 in Reno, Nevada. He moved to Phoenix when he was 8 months old and attended grade school, middle school, high school and college in the Phoenix area. He grew up running around the Arizona deserts collecting rocks, snakes, lizards and anything that caught his eye. Mike was always full of energy and curiosity. He was a "one of a kind" kid. He was always very social and happy, with a smile that could "light up a room". He was generous of heart and soul, sometimes not having any money because he had given it to someone else in a time of need. Wanting to make a life change and make a difference in this world, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001 at the age of 29 and left for boot camp in San Diego on October 30, 2001. Mike was a tough Marine. His fellow platoon buddies called him "Pops" and "Old Man River" because he was one of the oldest Marines in his platoon. During the "crucible", he fractured a bone in his lower leg. Determined to finish the rigorous test, he completed it with a broken leg. At graduation from boot camp in January of 2002, Mike took off his leg cast and marched with his platoon.. He was part of the 1st Batallion, 2nd Marine Division, Charlie Company, Weapons Platoon, and was stationed at Camp Le Jeune, NC. Along with his parents, Mike left a very large and loving family including his fiancee, Heather Strange. He met Heather in 1999 through his brother Joe and sister-in-law Lisa Strange Williams, who is Heather's sister. Mike's family includes brothers Joe Williams and Bob Pennington Jr. and sister, Lisa Harris, all of Phoenix. Joe and Lisa Williams have a son, Levi Michael Williams, two months old who received his middle name from his Uncle Mike. Mike was the youngest of four grandsons of William and Barbara Brady of Kelseyville, CA. His aunts, uncles and cousins number in the dozens from the Bradys, the Watsons, the Penningtons and the Williams families. Lisa's and Heather's parents, Harrol and Sandra Strange, are also of Phoenix. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 17th, 10:00 a.m. at the North Phoenix Baptist Church Chapel. Burial is immediately following at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. The family has asked that donations in Mike's memory be made to the "Michael Williams Memorial Fund" located at the Maricopa County Employees Federal Credit Union, 721 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2083, acct. #350878. The money will be used for the men and women fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mike will be deeply missed and never forgotten. John 3:16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Courtesy of Pat Wilson.