Joseph Gage honored, remembered by family

Joseph Alan Gage liked tattoos. Often, when he came home to the Modesto area, he got a new one. Monday night, three other people got tattoos, creating for them permanent memorials to the Army staff sergeant.

Gage, a member of the 101st Airborne Division, was killed by an explosive device Thursday in Iraq. As was often the case, he was out front, leading a four-vehicle convoy when his Humvee was hit. Three others were killed with him, two officers and an Iraqi interpreter. Gage became the 17th person from the Northern San Joaquin Valley to be killed while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

By Monday, if he had lived, Gage would have been on his way home to Fort Campbell, Ky. Upon his return, he would have celebrated his eighth wedding anniversary with his wife, Samantha Gage. Their home would have been filled with joy and laughter, as it always was on such occasions, she said.

"I have no grace whatsoever — I could trip over a cordless phone," she said Tuesday. "He would point that out and we would always laugh about that. And our son (6-year-old Michael) is the most goofy little boy in the world ... just like his father."

On what would have been their anniversary night, Samantha Gage got a tattoo that contained a heart and a red rose ("he always gave me red roses because they were my favorite") and Joseph's name. Nearly 2,000 miles west, Randy Gage, Joseph's dad, also was getting a tattoo that contained his son's name. "It was my first, and it will probably be my last," he said. He went with his daughter and Joseph's sister, Julie Gage, who got her own tattoo.

Permanent reminders of a husband, a son and a brother who gave his life in service to his country.

Asked how those of who didn't know Joseph Gage should honor his memory, his widow made only a simple request:

"Just support the troops, even if you're not for the war. They need it so much; that's all he ever asked for. He didn't care if you were for the war or not."

The day after exercising our defining freedom by voting, we reiterate our support to all those who are fighting in foreign lands. And we send our condolences to the Gage family here and in Fort Campbell.

From the Modesto Bee

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