You will not be forgotten, RIP my dear friend.


http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=47682

Central grad killed by bomb on patrol in Iraq
By BENJAMIN KEPPLE
Union Leader Staff



MANCHESTER — A Manchester Marine who one day wanted to be a state trooper was killed Sunday in Iraq, his mother and friends said yesterday.

Lance Cpl. Adam Brooks, 20, was a Central High School graduate who went into the military after his graduation in 2003. According to family and friends, Brooks was on patrol in Baghdad when a bomb exploded near his Humvee. He died shortly afterward from injuries suffered while trying to escape the vehicle.

Yesterday, Brooks was remembered as a hard-working, dedicated and loving young man, proud of his service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

"He wanted to further his education that way. He had all kinds of plans. He was supposed to come home in February, after his deployment," said Rose Marois, Brooks' mother, who lives on Spruce Street. "I knew he was in danger, but he didn't want me to worry. You worry anyway."

The last message from her son was a thank-you note for some homemade hackysacks Marois had sent him. It was signed, "With love."

"It's awful," Marois said. "Your kids aren't supposed to die before you do."

Marois said Brooks liked to do all kinds of things — bike riding, driving, eating out and hanging out with friends. She also remembered him for his kindheartedness and his steadfast determination. Her son hoped to become a state trooper, she said.

"He tried to do the best he could, at everything he did," Marois said.

In addition to his mother, survivors include his wife, Ashley, two sisters and a grandmother.

He also left behind many close friends.

"He will never, never leave our hearts and our minds and our thoughts, and someday we will meet again. That's how we feel," said Fatima Deek, a close friend of the couple and Ashley's family.

Deek said Brooks and Ashley became engaged over Christmas. The longtime sweethearts married over Memorial Day weekend, knowing he was headed to Iraq.

"They married so that when he was in battle, he'd have something to hold onto," Deek said.

One of Deek's four sons, Ibraheem, spoke to Brooks on Sunday, hours before he was killed. The family had sent a Thanksgiving package to Brooks, and he had called to thank them.

"He said that he got the stuff that I sent him," said Ibraheem, an 8-year-old who attends Northwest Elementary School.

Deek said Brooks helped her and her husband, Bassam Deek, watching their sons when she would go to visit her youngest when he was ill at Elliot Hospital in August 2001.

"He and Ashley would take care of them," Deek said. "He was easy to trust. He was so caring. For someone who was 20 years old, he accomplished so many things."

Deek said she was awakened at 1 a.m. yesterday when Ashley called her with the news. Deek, a neighbor who lives on Front Street on the West Side, ran over to Ashley and her mother's house. There were three Marines there. Deek stayed until 5 a.m. as they grieved.

Deek, who was born in Jerusalem, said Brooks would celebrate Ramadan with her family. After the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington, he helped her at a time when she was the victim of a hate crime in Manchester for being Muslim, she said.

"Adam was so full of love. I can't say enough about his love," Deek said. "He got along with anybody.

"A couple times I would make the mistake and say 'Army,'" Deek added. "He would always correct me and tell me that he was a Marine.

"He achieved his dreams. He was so proud, I'm sure he died proud."

Those who knew Brooks at Central High School recalled both his love of the Marines and his enthusiasm for joining the force.

"He was a Central success story, and we were very, very proud of him," said Central Principal John Rist. "He was proud to be a Marine."

"He was a real good kid. He really worked hard, especially toward the end of his career at Central," said Bill Cannon, Brooks' guidance counselor, who also recalled Brooks' love of the Marines. "I was very happy for him. He was a success out of Central, no question about it."

Joy Canny, a support professional at Central, said Brooks always had a smile and a good group of friends at the school. She, like her colleagues, remembered Brooks' focus in achieving his goals.

"The minute he decided what he wanted to do," Canny said, "there wasn't any stopping him."

This man, was he getting married or was he already married?

I also give my respects to him he fought for us all. ( U.S )