Our Hero Always!
American Hero Banner for Mike (pdf file)
Photos of Mike's younger years
Honoring Veterans at Palomar 2009
Wreaths for Warriors Walk, Inc.
Fort Stewart, Georgia
Click here to see a tribute
from Wreaths for Warriors Walk.
FALLBROOK -- Mike T. Sonoda, 34, died Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005, in Iraq.
He was born July 1, 1971, in Oceanside. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard. Sgt. Sonoda was preceded in death by his grandparents, Wallace and Yukiko Kozuki and Takeji and Shizue Sonoda. He is survived by his parents, Emiko and Takeshi Sonoda of Fallbrook; and sister Irene Sonoda of Fallbrook.
Visitation is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Eternal Hills Mortuary, 1999 El Camino Real in Oceanside. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Eternal Hills Chapel. Interment will follow at Eternal Hills Memorial Park.
Family mourns a death
10/4/2005 North County Times
On the morning of Sept. 23, I awakened to the news that my wife's dear
cousin Mike Sonoda was killed in Iraq. He was killed in an ambush while
serving in the U.S. National Guard. Mike was a wonderful young man, son of
hardworking tomato and strawberry farmers in San Diego County.
Several members of the Sonoda family have served in the armed forces,
including Korea, Vietnam and Iraq.
During the 1940s, the Sonoda family was forced to leave their farms in the
San Joaquin Valley and were sent to Japanese-American concentration camps
during World War II. The Sonodas have given a lot to this country, and
they have endured great suffering.
I really don't know why we are in Iraq. It certainly wasn't because of
weapons of mass destruction. Maybe it was to remove a cruel dictator.
Maybe it was to occupy an oil-rich land, instead of concentrating on
alternative fuel sources. Whatever the reason, we have lost a lot of very
brave soldiers, not to mention countless thousands of innocent Iraqis.
Maybe this war has touched your lives, but to the Sonoda family, the death
of Mike is a devastating loss to a wonderful family of kind and gentle
people. We will always remember Mike's ultimate sacrifice, and we will
never forget his spirit.
WAYNE PAUL ARMSTRONG
San Marcos
This Veterans Memorial plaque is located on the main
Palomar College campus in front of the student union.
Palomar College
1140 West Mission Road
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 744-1150
Mike's Final Resting Place in Oceanside, CA
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