The Northwest Florida Daily News -- CRESTVIEW - Family members of U.S. Army Specialist Michael Anaya were on their way to Dover Air Force Base Monday night, to be there when his body arrives. 


The 23-year old son of Crestview residents, Carmelo Sr. and Cheryl Anaya, died early on April 12 in Bayji, Iraq by an improvised explosive device. The family was told that the truck he was driving ran over the IED.

He was a young man who loved fishing, cooking on the grill and fighting for his country. "He knew the risk and he said that's what he loved and that's what his life was meant for," said Katie Rowe, who is engaged to his older brother, Carmelo Jr.

"He has, ever since he was 5 years old, known that's what he wanted to do."

Rowe said some family members would return Wednesday, but Mike's father would stay to fly back with his son's body on Thursday. He will be buried locally.

Mike, as he was known to family and friends, had told his family that if he died, he wanted to be buried near his family. Rowe said her future brother-in-law had a premonition that this might be his last tour.

"He told his brother, ‘I have a feeling that I'm not going to make it back, but that's what I'm meant to do,' " Rowe said. "He said, ‘It's not just for you and the family and my nieces and nephews. It's for everybody.' "

Mike was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, according to the Department of Defense release about his death.

Rowe said that he had been offered his choice of jobs in the Army, but chose infantry. He felt it was his destiny, she said.

His father was from Puerto Rico, but the family spent much of Mike's childhood in the Port St. Lucie area.

When his older sister, Trista Moffett, was stationed in this area several years ago, his family moved to Crestview to be closer to her. 
Mike was not married and had no children. He had just turned 23, Rowe said.

"He was just a really good guy," she said, tearfully. "Everybody loved Mike so much."

She said that she and his brother had their first baby - a little girl - after Mike left for Iraq. "He never even got to see her," she said, adding that she told her infant daughter, "Well, he sees you now."