Two Florida soldiers die in Afghanistan combat

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - Sgt. Bradley Crose, who died Monday in Afghanistan, was a deeply religious and patriotic young man who believed it was his duty to serve his country, his father said Tuesday. <br> <br> ``He was a fine Christian and he was a warrior,&#39;&#39; said his father, Ricky Crose. ``He was a shining light.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Crose, who lives in Orange Park, Fla., a Jacksonville suburb, said he hadn&#39;t yet learned the circumstances of his son&#39;s death. <br> <br> ``All we know is, he died of direct enemy action,&#39;&#39; Crose said in a telephone interview. <br> <br> The younger Crose, 22, was an Army Ranger stationed at Hunter Army Air Field in Savannah, Ga. He had been a Ranger for 3.5 years and was scheduled to be discharged in October. <br> <br> Another Floridian, Spc. Marc A. Anderson, 30, of Brandon, Fla., also died in the fighting and also was with the Army Rangers based at Hunter. <br> <br> ``I&#39;m proud of him,&#39;&#39; said his mother, Judith Anderson, who lives in Jacksonville. ``He is a hero.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> She said her son joined the Army because his father, David, had been in the Army&#39;s airborne unit in the Vietnam War. <br> <br> ``He was doing what he felt he needed to do,&#39;&#39; Judith Anderson said, adding that all the soldiers killed were good friends and had trained together. ``He gave the ultimate for his country.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Anderson was a graduate of Florida State University and worked as a teacher in Fort Myers schools for several years before joining the Army about four years ago, his mother said. He planned to go back to teaching after leaving the Army in November. <br> <br> Crose is asking that his son be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. <br> <br> ``He deserves that honor. He was the most treasured thing I could give my country,&#39;&#39; said Crose said, his voice breaking with emotion. ``I want people to know the sacrifices he made.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Judith Anderson said she would like the parents to consider burying their sons in the same location. <br> <br> ``They lived together and died together,&#39;&#39; Mrs. Anderson said. <br> <br> Crose said although his son worried about fighting in Afghanistan, he was ready to use his training. <br> <br> ``Bradley wanted to go,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> Bradley Crose graduated from Orange Park High School in 1998 and joined the Army. Anderson graduated from Alliance High School in Alliance, Ohio. While in school, he was an active in Tae Kwan Do, placing third in a national competition, his father said. <br> <br> Crose was an avid reader, spending $100 on classical literature at a local book store before he headed for Afghanistan. <br> <br> ``I couldn&#39;t be more proud,&#39;&#39; Crose said. ``I am hurting, but I&#39;m ever so proud of him.&#39;&#39;

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