Michael Jacob Allred was born in Vernal, Utah, on November 12, 1981,
the second son of Brett and Zellene Allred. Shortly after his graduation
from Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah, he enlisted in the United
States Marine Corps in January 2001 and was assigned to India Company,
3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton, California. Michael distinguished himself by working hard and displaying leadership qualities. He was the first in his SOI (School of Infantry) class to achieve the rank of Lance Corporal. Because of his leadership skills, he was selected as a coxswain of a boat landing company and later as a team leader by his squad and platoon leaders.
Michael was first deployed to Iraq to assist in Operation Iraqi Freedom, from January to May 2003. He was later assigned to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in 2003. In early March 2004, he was again deployed to Iraq where he was stationed in Fallujah, Al Anbar Province. As a result of wounds received in action in late March 2004, he was awarded a Purple Heart. Then, on 6 September 2004, while on patrol outside Fallujah, Michael, along with six other Marines and three Iraqi Guardsmen, was killed in a suicide car bombing. Michael was posthumously awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart.
Michael's officers complimented him on his work ethic, his dependability, and his composure in battlefield situations. He loved what he was doing and felt strongly that he was in the right place doing the right thing and that the Iraqi people needed him there.
Michael planned to attend Utah State University after his enlistment in the Marines was completed. In his honor and to express their gratitude to a loving community that supported them at the time of their loss, Michael's family has created a scholarship fund to assist those wanting to attend Utah State University.
