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Mike T. Sonoda Jr.

Mike Sonoda Obituary

July 1, 1971-Sept. 22, 2005

Mike T. Sonoda Jr., 34, of Fallbrook died Sept. 22. He was born in Oceanside and was a sergeant in the Army National Guard. Survivors include his parents, Takeshi and Emiko Sonoda; and sister, Irene Sonoda.

Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Eternal Hills Mortuary, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside.

Services: 1 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary.

Interment: after services, Eternal Hills Memorial Cemetery.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Oct. 1, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Mike Sonoda

20 Entries

Dia Ladewig Perry

May 26, 2025

20 years later you are still utmost in our hearts, Mike
We will never forget and will always honour you.
Dia (Ladewig) and Paul Perry

Courtney Norman

May 27, 2024

Went and visited you today. I promised to never to forgot. My boys never met you but they know you. Rest in peace old friend

Charlie Gili

November 16, 2023

Hello,

We wanted you to know that we will be honoring and remembering your loved one this holiday season. We have recently sent Care Packages to our deployed troops in his name. Each package will carry the name, photo, service branch, rank and hometown of Mike T. Sonoda Jr. US Army Specialist.

We realize that this is a small tribute, but we do this with all respect and sincerity and we want you to know that it is made possible by thousands of like-minded individuals from across the American youth hockey community, our family, friends and many others who support our mission.

We will not forget. May God Bless you and keep you safe and strong.

Sincerely,
Charlie Gili & Family
On Behalf of our US Hockey Players Support Our Troops Campaign

Courtney

May 29, 2023

I was Mikes friend from UPS. He was such a great guy. I try to go visit him every Memorial Day. I went and saw him today. Please accept my condolences. Mike has not been forgotten. My kids have come with me since they were babies. His memory continues on through them.

Peggy Childers

September 22, 2011

To the family and friends of Spc. Mike T. Sonoda:
Please accept my remembrance of Mike on the anniversary of his passing and know that he will never be forgotten.

Peggy Childers

September 22, 2010

To the family and friends of Spc. Mike T. Sonoda:
Remembering Mike on the anniversary of his passing. May our fallen heroes never be forgotten!
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

Peggy Childers

September 22, 2009

To the family of Spc. Mike T. Sonoda:
Mike gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

In Memory of Mike ~ (Debra Estep)

September 22, 2008

Holding you all in my thoughts and prayers.

The Wind on The Downs

“I like to think of you as brown and tall,
As strong and living as you used to be,
In khaki tunic, Sam Brown belt and all,
And standing there and laughing down at me.
Because they tell me, dear, that you are dead,
Because I can no longer see your face,
You have not died, it is not true, instead
You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe;
I hear you laughing as you used to do,
Yet loving all the things I think of you;
And knowing you are happy, should I grieve?
You follow and are watchful where I go.”

(Written by Marian Allen during World War l )

Two lines that I wish you to keep near your heart…….

“You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe”

I did not know Mike, but I am remembering
his service. He is my hero. !

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Other Side

i'm over on the other side
where life and death softly divide.
left my skin and bones behind
now i'm over on the other side.

can you feel me there with you?
my breath is gone but i'm not through.
loved you then and i still do
from over on the other side.

i can fly. really fly.
below the earth ... all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.

it's good here on the other side.
the sweetest songs...the bluest skies.
thank you for the tears you cried
but it's good here on the other side.

i can fly. really fly. below the earth...all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side

the world is smaller than a needle's eye.
where life and death softly divide.
when you leave your skin and bones behind
i'll be waiting on the other side.

i can fly. really fly. below the earth ... all through the sky.
go tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.

Song lyrics by Don Conoscenti
C Desert Muse/SESAC
www.donconoscenti.com
(Used with permission)

“I hope it brings great comfort to any and all.
Peace on you. DonCon” 4-2008

The Other Side –
(To hear the song)
http://tinyurl.com/3o8gol

Sincerely,

Deb Estep ~ Ohio
Proud Air Force Mom SSgt Vince – Lackland AFB
Proud Air Force MIL SrA Dana – Randolph AFB

Remembering The Fallen – Blog
http://tinyurl.com/3z8p55

Angel and soldier drawing I have shared here.
http://tinyurl.com/6gey8b

SGT Sonoda, Kuwait enroute to Iraq 2005

September 13, 2007

August 15, 2007

There is nothing that I can say or do to take away the pain or bring you peace in your time of sorrow, but I will offer you and your family my heart felt condolences. I also offer you my prayers that in time the pain will easy and the memories of your HERO will carry you through each day and night. I want to thank your HERO, for his/her selfless act of becoming a member of the armed forces, his/her willingness to defend the United States of America, all that we hold sacred and for the sacrifice that will forever be etched in the memories of all those who knew him/her. Though tears can never bring him/her back, we hope that our tears express our gratitude for the sacrifice that he/she made and our sorrow at his/her passing. I believe for every fallen HERO there is a star shining brightly up above to remind us of the precious gift we were given.

Your mission on earth is complete and you are now a member of GOD’s Heavenly armed forces. Stand down brave warrior and take your rightful place in Heaven with all the HEROES who have passed before.

I made a special promise to LE RON A. WILSON, a dear family friend who joined the Army with three other friends, one of whom is my son (Le Ron was killed in action on 07/06/07 at the age of 18) on the day he was laid to rest as I touched his coffin, that I would never forget him nor would I forget those that gave their lives for our country before him, with him and after him and so when I came across www.legacy.com, I thought what a great way to keep my promise to Le Ron, so I will continue to leave tributes in each guest book until the day there is no longer the need to leave these tributes to a FALLEN HERO.

REST IN PEACE, HERO, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!

PROUD MOTHER OF A U.S. SOLDIER
Currently stationed in Germany
Althea Barrett(Queens, NY)

Garnet Jenkins

September 21, 2006

Remembering this Young Hero, Sgt. Mike T. Sonoda , on the anniversary of the day he gave his live for our Country, with a Multitude of Thanks for his Service and Dedication to our Country and for Freedom.

May Mike rest in God's Loving Care and know that he will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

May God's Grace and Comfort, continue to be with the Sonoda family.

From the sister of a Fallen young hero, who made the Ultimate Sacrifice in Vietnam. KIA~1967.

"And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes,

there shall be no more death,

nor sorrow, nor crying,

there shall be no more pain.

For the former things have have passed away."

Revelations 21:4

May the memories of your loved one live in your heart always.

Softly and slowly....

Time heals...

ROBYN GARSIDE

June 5, 2006

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS. I HAVE JUST LEARNED OF YOUR GREAT LOSS AND WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES. PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT HERE WHO DO CARE AND YOUR HERO WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. HOLD TIGHT TO YOUR TREASURED MEMORIES THAT HIS SPECIAL SMILE MAY CONTINUE TO SHINE. I PRAY THAT PEACE WILL FIND YOU ALL SOMEDAY. GODSPEED AND SEMPER FI.

A PROUD MARINE MOM

Tom Gugliuzza-Smith

March 6, 2006

My heartfelt sympathy to the Sonoda family in the loss of Mike. I did not know Mike, but my heart is broken and I am saddened for your loss of such a fine young person and hero. May God bring you peace in your heart as you reflect on all the wonderful memories you hold so close. Please know that you are in my heart and prayers. Mike shortly it will be six months since you were taken. You are a hero and you will never be forgotten.

I send each of you a hug from the most inner part of my heart.

Love and Peace

Tom

To live in the hearts

of those you leave behind

is never to die"

~Robert Orr~

shawnee

October 18, 2005

Rest in peace brave soldier.

SPC. MC

October 6, 2005

rest in peace brother. you are a true warrior in every way. we will see each other again some day.

Virginia Denning

September 29, 2005

May God bless you in a very special way, as He took a very special person from this world to be with Him. I thank God every day for men like your son who are willing to fight for our freedom and the freedom of oppressed nations. I know Mike has made a difference in every life he has touched. God bless everyone in his family

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they

protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they

perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus,

our Lord and Savior. Amen.

“I’ll lend you for a little while

A child of mine,” He said.

“For you to love the while he lives

And mourn when he is dead.

It may be six or seven years, or

Twenty two or three,

But will you ’til I call him back,

Take care of him for Me?

He’ll bring his charms to gladden you,

And should his days be brief,

You’ll have his lovely memories

As solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay,

Since all from earth return,

But there are lessons taught down there

I want this child to learn.

I’ve looked this wide world over

In my search for teachers true,

And from the throngs that crowd life’s lane

I have selected you.

Now will you give all your love,

Nor think the labor vain,

Nor hate me when I come to call

To take him back again?”

I fancy that I heard them say,

“Dear Lord, Thy will be done.

For all the joy this child shall bring,

The risk of grief we’ll run;

We’ll shelter him with tenderness,

We’ll love him while we may,

And for the happiness we’ve known

Forever grateful stay.

But should the angels call for him,

Much sooner then we’ve planned,

We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes.

And try to understand.” -Edgar Albert Guest

Grace Marques-Schmehl

September 28, 2005

My husband is in Baghdad with C co. 1-184 Inf. Our thoughts and payers go out to all of Spc. Sonoda's friends and family. We are so sorry for your loss.

Jamie Graves

September 28, 2005

God Bless( Jamie,Navy wife)

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