GI's family, friends recall 'a man among boys'

updated 8:36 p.m. ET May 24, 2007

TORRANCE, Calif. - In high school, Pfc. Joseph Anzack Jr. was surprisingly self-assured, knowing early what he wanted to do with his life: the military.

“I just remember, as a sophomore or a junior in high school, he was set on it, said ‘I’m ready to go,”’ said his friend and football teammate Kyle Flynn.

Now family and friends are mourning Anzack after receiving news Wednesday that his body was found in the Euphrates River following an ambush in Iraq.

“They told us ’We’re sorry to inform you the body we found has been identified as Joe,”’ his aunt, Debbie Anzack, told The Associated Press while choking back tears. “I’m in disbelief.”

Anzack, 20, was one of three soldiers who vanished after their combat team was ambushed May 12 about 20 miles outside Baghdad. Five others, including an Iraqi, were killed in the ambush, subsequently claimed by al-Qaida.

Anzack’s family had held out hope for the past 11 days. They had already endured an earlier rumor that he was dead — and were relieved to learn then that he was alive.

'A man among boys'
Flynn, his high school friend, said the two became fast friends on the football team. Anzack played nose guard, while Flynn was a defensive back.

“He was very positive. He was a guy you could look to and say ’I’m OK. I’ve got Joe right there,”’ Flynn said. “He was a man among boys when we were in high school. You don’t realize that until something like this happened.”

Anzack’s father told his hometown newspaper, The Daily Breeze, that several family members gathered in his home for a vigil led by an Army chaplain after hearing the devastating news about his son.

“We said a prayer for the other two boys, then sat around and talked about Joseph,” said Joseph Anzack Sr., “just sharing the love of my son and why we all loved him.”

Other families await word
While Anzack’s family grieved, friends and relatives of the other captured soldiers anxiously awaited word. Missing are: Spc. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Mass.; and Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich.

NBC video GI's body found May 24: The U.S. military confirms the death of Joseph Anzack Jr. NBC's Ian Williams reports. NBC News

Fouty’s step-grandmother, Mary Dibler of Oxford, Mich., said the family was heartened by people’s support but saddened by the news about Anzack.

“We’re just continuing the same as we have been, one day at a time,” Dibler said. “We continue to pray; that’s all we can do.”

A yellow ribbon was tied to the front door of Jimenez’s father’s home in the former mill city north of Boston. Ramon Jimenez, who speaks Spanish, said through a translator in a cell phone conversation that he has been buoyed by the support of friends and family.

“The hope is very high that God is going to give Alex back to him,” said Wendy Luzon, a family friend who translated the conversation and has been serving as a spokeswoman for the family.

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