Published in the Sacramento Bee on 3/28/2008
Dec. 21, 1966 -
Mar. 17, 2008
SSG Michael Duane Elledge, age 41, of Fountain, Colo., formerly of
Dearborn, Mich., died on March 17, 2008, in action supporting Operation
Iraqi Freedom. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd
Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colo.,
Michael died from wounds suffered when a vehicle he was riding in
encountered an improvised explosive device during combat operations.
This was Michael's second tour of duty in Iraq. According to his
soldiers deployed with Mike, he felt they were really making a
difference over there.
Elledge received an airframe and power plant license from Sacramento
City College. He served four years in the Marine Corps, during which he
received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. Following his Marine
career, Michael worked for 13 years as a mechanic with United Airlines
before joining the Army in 2005. During his Army career, he received the
Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign
Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional
Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and a
Presidential Unit Citation. Posthumously, Michael will be honored with
the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
A member of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., Michael was a
man of God, a devoted father, loving husband and patriotic soldier. His
hobbies included hiking, playing the guitar and Taekwondo. During his
most recent deployment, Michael led a Bible study for many soldiers and
tried to influence some of his younger peers with Christian beliefs.
This was one of his major goals in life: to teach and let everyone know
how wonderful it is to be a Christian. Although it was a tragedy that
his life was taken at a young age, Michael's family knows that he is in
heaven, sitting at the feet of Jesus.
Predeceased by his father, Lynn Gordon Elledge, Michael is survived by
his wife, Carleen; two sons, Christopher, age 18, and Caleb, age 8; one
daughter, Cassidy, age 5; mother Marion Crimens, and stepfather John
Crimens of Gaylord, Mich.; brother Timothy Elledge of White Lake, Mich.;
his two half brothers; three half-sisters; one stepbrother; one
stepsister; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 29, at 2:00 p.m., at
Chapel of the Pines, Placerville, Calif. A memorial service will be held
in mid-April at Fort Carson. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations for
the benefit of the Elledge children's education can be made to
"Memory of Michael Elledge" c/o U.S. Bank, 521 East Bidwell
Street, Folsom, CA 95630.
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