I've been meaning to do this for a long time. Words are really not enough to express my feelings about Jesse Strong. We never met him or anyone in the family, however my son is a Marine. While at a local hockey game to support our local deployed Marines, I learned that a member of his reserve unit ( Chris Gentry) would be appearing in a CNN specail that night. Since I have met both Gentry twins, I made plans to have it taped if we did not get home in time to see it. As you can guess the CNN Special was "Ambush At The River of Secrets" Our son is also a combat engineer and was stationed up the Euphrates River from Haditha. This special was a real revelation to me and my wife. Even though our son was in Iraq for the second time, we still had never gotten the "real" story that this show provided. The families were just like us, and the young men were just like ours. In addition Jesse's family goes to church like we do and we sing the same hyms. I will unashamedly admit that I cried through most of the show. At the same time, I was, and am so proud of people like the Strongs. I am so glad you shared your story of your son's life. Not just his service to his country, but even more importantly, his service to God. I still hear his taped words that they included in the program. Our son was wounded about two months prior to the airing of the CNN program that I saw on January 26th, 2007. He was wounded by an IED while he was on foot patrol near Rawah. His injuries were not severe and has fully recovered. When our son came home from Iraq, I thought of Jesse and the other young men covered in the CNN program. I thanked God for bringing him home to us, I thank God for those like Jesse who gave their lives for our country and I thanked God for the families of both. As a Christian, I believe I am going to Heavan one day and I really have no concept of what it will be. I do know that it would be a heavenly experience tjust o be able to spend eternity hugging each and every soul like Jesse. I am a 53 year old married man of 32 years to the mother of our 3 sons. I hope I haven't been melodromadic or too rambling with this message. I will end it with a huge THANK YOU to the Strong family and I know, Mrs. Strong, you will get that "thank you" from an Iraqi one day. Gratefully yours, Mike Simmons

For those of you that do not know me Jesse was my roommate our sophomore year at Liberty . The following year, as juniors Jesse served as Spiritual Life Director (SLD) on the hall with myself as one of the two Resident Assistants (RA). It was during that Junior year that I had a major dental problem and Jesse drove me 400 miles from Liberty to Pittsburgh to see my home dentist as I was in too much pain to drive myself. The day after my dental surgery we went out to eat with my family at a small restaurant in my hometown before heading back to Liberty . It was a typical day in Western Pennsylvania ; it was dark, cold, gloomy, and raining. As we walked out to the car Jesse looked into the sky and smiled ear to ear and said "Neat, it's raining" Jesse was a man who embodied happiness in all he did. He reflected the heart of Christ not only in being an incredible servant but people saw something different in him at all times…they saw a Christ-like attitude about life. Today is the 5th anniversary of the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom and today more than ever I think of Jesse. I wish I could tell him "Thank you" for the impact he made in my life. Sometimes in death a person’s character is inflated to only reflect the “Good” in them and the “Bad” is discarded in the human effort not to say evil things about someone who has passed away. But, I truly will say that without doubt Jesse was the greatest man I have personally ever known. I don’t say it because he is gone and I only remember the good things about him, I say it because in all the years I knew him I couldn’t tell you something bad about him if I wanted to because he was that close to God. Jesse, we on Earth miss you. This world lost a great asset when you left it early. Hopefully, those of us who knew you can reflect just a little bit of your attitude and personality in our lives and in that way your testimony will never die. We love and miss you. Thank you. Michael

Hello to all of you, Yesterday, we remembered about Jesse's passing 3 years ago and today we entered his name in the net and saw this special site about him and his life. Very nice by the way. We hope that you are all doing fine. We are thinking about you often and will never forget Jesse. Love, Otto & Chantal

Nate, Vicki, Matthew, and Heather, Just a quick note to say that I continue to think of Jesse and you often. I keep the card he sent me from Iraq on my desk as well as a copy of his picture. His life is an inspiration to my family and me. Every year during this time I take time to think about him as well as you. You are special indeed. Love, Phillip, Jamie, and Brenden Dunn

My 5 year old and 3 year old sons pray for your family and all of the other veterans and veterans' families nightly. After learning a little about your son and your family on the CNN broadcast and this website, I pray that I can raise my sons to grow to be the type of man that Jesse obviously was. I have printed out Jesse's story and when my sons get a little older, I will tell them your son's story. I pray that you have peace.

To The Strong Family, I also am a STRONG!! And from reading about your son Jesse, he was a very strong individual who fought for the country he believed in. I just saw your message play on T.V and I found it very powerful. I know your son is smiling down on you, along with my father Douglas Strong who just recently passed away suddenly. God Bless you and yours, Jennifer

Dear Jesse and Family, I see so many parallels between Jesse's life and my own. From a loving God fearing family, to the decision to serve, and the joy of life. I would like you to know that after coming back to my faith in bootcamp I have since strayed again... but reading about Jesse's devotion to Christ has sprung something inside of me. I am rarely an emotional man but I was brought to tears after seeing your son's memorial sight... not out of sorrow so much as the love that did and still surrounds him. You truly are a remarkable family that raised a remarkable man. With a younger brother now serving in the Corps and a father since retired from it my family is all too familiar with what "could happen" but I'll take a lesson from Jesse if I may and continue to focus on "excitement about what the future may hold". Semper Fidelis Brother. I'll see you when I get there. May God continue to bless you and I will keep you in my prayers, Joshua Maida (Sgt USMC)

To the friends and family of Jesse Strong: While our country has lost thousands of brave young men and women during the war on terror, each of us will be more affected by the loss of those close to us. Recently, my family held its annual reunion at Fairy Stone State Park in Virginia. We hold it there every year. My new wife and I shared cabin 4, where Jesse's parents apparently stayed, I believe it was last summer. Within the guestbook for that cabin, they had written about their stay at Fairy Stone along with the parents of another fallen hero. I read what they had to write several times during the week we were there, and on the day we were going to leave I cryed. I wanted to write something special in our own entry in the guestbook, and I did. However, I also wanted to let you know that the memorial you left for Jesse in that cabin in Southwestern Virginia touched me and my wife. I work as a contractor supporting the Marine Corps, and as I explain it to my mother, I help to make the equipment our Marines use, to be safe for their use. As such, my life is dedicated to protecting the lives of all of those Devildogs, who are out risking theirs for our freedom. I want to thank you for raising such an amazing young man as Jesse. If not for all of the men and women like your son, we would not be the great nation we are today. And your tribute to Jesse did not go unnoticed by the rest of us. Your son, and your family, are in my thoughts and prayers. Semper Fidelis

To the Strong family, My condolences go out to you. It's extremely heartwarming to see the response you have gotten from this website from everyone sharing their love and their condolences to you. I, too, have friends who are currently in Iraq, with whom, I get only a few chances to speak with them. One of my closest friends is over there at the moment and every chance I get and it scares the living daylights out of me just because I know how hard it is for them over there. I admire Jesse's willingness to have signed up for the Marines and I give kudos to the others that do also. What I guess I'm trying to get at is is that you guys live up to your name. You guys are strong in the mind, heart, and soul. God bless your family and may Jesse rest in peace. God bless our soldiers for doing such a deed.