Two Tracy parents make note of the news that Anbar province, where their late son was killed, was handed over to the Iraqi government last week.

Lost in the headlines last week was the signing and handing over of the Anbar province to the Iraqi government by the U.S. Marine Corps.

The Iraqis are now in control of what was one of the most volatile provinces in Iraq.

Our son, Lance Cpl. Brandon C. Dewey, 3-1, India Co., served with valor in the Anbar province. In 2004, he was in Fallujah for his first tour of duty, where some of the fiercest battles were fought. Outside of a Marine base there, he survived an attack, including a vehicle bomb. Although wounded, he did not budge an inch from his post, and had to be ordered to the field hospital by his captain. 

For his "tough as nails" determination that day, he was awarded his first Purple Heart. He was to return from Fallujah when so many good Marines did not.

Our good friends, Mike and Angela Anderson from Modesto, lost their son, Cpl. Mike Anderson Jr., 3-5, Fast Co., in Fallujah in December 2004.

Brandon returned to the Anbar province in September 2005 for his second tour of duty.

On Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, he was at a checkpoint with his squad leader, Cpl. Carlos Arellano. At the checkpoint, they detained a suspected suicide vehicle bomb. Both of these brave Marines were killed.

We miss our son terribly. There is not a day that goes by that we don't thinkabout him. We are very proud of him and his service and sacrifice to our country. We will never forget.

This is a victory for the U.S. in Iraq, a great day, and an even better day for the Iraqi people. To the Marines, we say, job well done, semper fi and oooooreh!

And we wish them well in Afghanistan.

Scott and Julie Conover are 20-year Tracy residents, proud Blue Star parents of U.S. Navy Petty Officer Elyse M. Dewey and proud Gold Star parents of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon C. Dewey.