WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderStockton family remembers their fallen soldier

Stockton family remembers their fallen soldier

By Samantha Ptashkin

STOCKTON (WREX)- A lot of people are right by their loved one's side when he or she dies, but for some families, they're thousands of miles away when they learn the news.

The Michels were in their home town of Stockton when they found out what every military parent, or wife, fears most.

Devin Michel died October 24 in Afghanistan after enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive. He was just 19 years old and had gone overseas almost five months ago. Devin joined the military at age 17.

As a crisp October wind rustles the leaves in the small town of Stockton, the yellow ribbons everywhere are signs of something else, or rather someone else that's shaken up the community. "He liked to have fun, live life like it's your last moment and grab the bull by the horns," said Rebecca Michel, Devin's mother.

Michel enjoyed sharing his passion for music and sports. He didn't share too much about his time in Afghanistan. "I don't know and I probably never will know what he had to see, but it probably did make him grow up a little bit," said Anika Michel, Devin's wife.

Devin is the second soldier from Stockton killed overseas in the past two years. It's another death that's built up so much raw emotion within his family and the entire community. "I feel anger that two young people didn't make it. Confused, hurt, shocked," Anika said.

Now all a father, a mother and a wife have are their own memories. Of course there's the photos, but none of it comes close to having Devin right there beside them. "You can't change the choices they made. This is something they wanted to do, something they did and we can't change that, but again, in the end it's just not fair," Anika said.

Devin is also survived by two sisters. His funeral will be November 7 at Stockton High School at 11 a.m.