Army Pfc. Lyndon A. Marcus Jr.

Died May 3, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Long Beach, Calif.; assigned to the 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Vilseck, Germany; one of four soldiers killed May 3 when their military vehicle left the road and flipped over in a canal in Balad, Iraq.

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When Pfc. Lyndon A. Marcus Jr. fell in love with singing and musical theater, he wanted to share his passion. He starred in a high school production of "Fame," and even recorded a song to be distributed in local independent record stores. "He had a smile that would make you melt," said his sister, Keil Marcus. "He was real talented and wasn't afraid to be himself and express himself." The 21-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., died May 3 when his vehicle flipped over in a canal in Balad, Iraq. He was stationed in Vilseck, Germany. He was an "energetic, talented kid ... a performer in every sense," said his high school drama teacher, Robert Browning. In a letter received just hours after the soldier's family learned of his death, Lyndon Marcus wrote that things had been tough in Iraq, and that he was looking forward to coming home and seeing his sister again. "When he was a kid, he wanted to be a superhero and save the world," Keil Marcus said. " ... He was my superhero."

— Associated Press