CHANDLER, Ariz. - As Sarah Burke flips through the pages of her Hamilton High School senior yearbook, she comes across the ending of a note from of her long-time friend Alex Conrad.
"P.S. remember I'm only a phone call away," Conrad wrote just before starting basic training in the military.
"He was right, this was in 2010 and if I ever needed anything, unless he really was unavailable, he was there to take my call," Burke said. "He lived up to his promise."
Burke and Conrad grew up together, forming a special bond as middle school sweethearts. The two drifted into other circles over their high school years, making new friends while always staying close.
"Everybody knew him as Conrad. That was just how he was referred to. He was just really important to the vast majority of people that knew him," Burke says.
We heard from several of those people shortly after hearing about his passing in Somalia. High school friend Ben Peters says, "Alex was a great person in the time that I was honored to know him. Nicest friend you could ever meet, always cared for others without hesitation, always had a smile on his face. He's been a true hero through and through his entire life. Rest in peace brother."
Molly Denton wrote, "Conrad was the quiet and reliable friend we all needed. he always made sure everyone felt included and would be there for you day or night. I'm so grateful for his service and will always remember our Chino lunches senior year. Rest in Peace, Alex."
"At first I didn't believe it," Burke said while flipping back through the pages of her yearbook. "There was always that possibility while he was fighting for us that the worst could happen, but I never really believed it would happen to him," Burke says.
Pat Wolfe, Conrad's former teacher at Bogle Middle School tells 12 News how he and other teachers plan to craft some type of memorial on Campus in the fallen soldier's honor.
Staff Sgt. Alex Conrad died from injuries sustained by enemy fire while serving in Somalia, according to the Department of Defense.