Born on September 11

Image courtesy: Bock family/KMTV-TV

September 11, 2001 is a day that Americans will always remember. For Staff Sgt. Michael Bock, it was also the day he became a man. As terrorist attacks rocked New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, shattering the innocence of younger Americans who grew up surrounded by peace, Bock was supposed to be celebrating his 18th birthday. While watching in horror as innocent victims jumped from the World Trade Center, bodies were carried out of the Pentagon, and smoke rose above silent farmland in Shanksville, Bock knew he was making the right choice by becoming a United States Marine.

"He was born on September 11 and was in the Marines. The incident on 9/11 sealed the deal for him enlisting," father David Bock told Action 3 News in Omaha, Nebraska.

During a more than eight year military career, Staff Sgt. Bock distinguished himself as an exemplary volunteer warrior who always answered the call to crush America's enemies with his fist and extend a helping hand to civilians trapped in the middle of war and chaos. During two combat tours each in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bock earned a Purple Heart and many other military decorations. Yet he also stepped up to help victims of the devastating 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, which killed over 200,000 people.

On August 13, Staff Sgt. Bock was supporting combat operations in the volatile Helmand province when, according to the Pentagon, he was killed in battle. The Marine was assigned to the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.

One of the first public officials to honor the departed warrior was California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who Bock undoubtedly watched on the big screen as a young boy.

"Staff Sergeant Michael Bock worked hard in the line of duty, defending our nation with pride and honor. The loss of his life is a terrible loss for our country. Maria and I offer our most sincere condolences to Michael’s family, friends and fellow Marines during their time of mourning."

As flags flew at half-staff at California's state capitol, relatives in Nebraska, where Bock grew up, and Florida, where the Marine's family moved, remembered someone who made the most of his 26 years on earth. Reporter Hannah Pickett spoke to the Marine's widow about how the tragedy will affect their little boy, Zander.

"He's going to be starting preschool soon and if anyone starts talking about their daddies and what their daddies do, I told him, 'you tell everyone, you be proud and say my daddy's an angel. My daddy has the best job. He's an angel,'" Tiffany [Bock] said.

Despite all the contributions this Marine made to the United States, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Indonesia since 9/11, Staff Sgt. Bock's death went mostly unnoticed by the national press until a series of unfortunate events at his Saturday funeral in Omaha. As members of the hateful Westboro 'Baptist Church' showed up to protest this Marine's sacrifice, police said a 62-year-old suspect drove by and sprayed tear gas near the First United Methodist Church. While authorities believe his target was the protesters, mourners paying their respects were also put in danger by the suspect's alleged actions.

While violence against Fred Phelps and his Westboro hate group cannot be condoned, I believe their presence, which includes signs like 'thank God for dead soldiers,' intentionally disturbs the peace of families, friends, and communities honoring the dead. In my opinion, that sort of incitement is criminal behavior. As many discussed on The Unknown Soldiers Facebook page over the weekend, violence, while not acceptable, was inevitable because of Westboro's despicable actions.

Al Snyder, who lost his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, has been battling Phelps in court after the group disrupted his son's funeral in 2006. Even though the pain Westboro causes to military families makes us all very angry, let's follow Snyder's example and support his cause to defeat the Westboro 'Baptist Church' in court. We should also stand behind the Patriot Guard Riders for repeatedly showing up to shield grieving relatives from outside disturbances.

As shown by this Marine's bravery, service, and the family he left behind, Staff Sgt. Michael Bock was much bigger than the people who tried to cause distractions at his funeral. While September 11, 2001, was a very dark day for our nation, the young men and women who stood up that day in defense of our country are beacons of light. On the upcoming 9th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Tribute In Light will once again illuminate lower Manhattan. As those twin beams shine into the evening clouds, a Marine will celebrate his 27th birthday in heaven.

Image courtesy: U.S. Air Force