Indianapolis Star -- Days before he went to war, Army Pvt. Cory R. Depew left a legacy of peace in Beech Grove.

Depew helped build a Peace Garden at Holy Name Church while on two-week leave before joining the Iraq conflict on Oct. 3.

"It had trees and bushes and benches where people can sit," said Ann May, Depew's mother. "He worked so hard on that garden and it is such a nice place to relax now."

Depew was killed Tuesday near Mosul when Iraqi insurgents riddled his patrol with gunfire and rocket propelled grenades.

He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 14th Calvary Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, based in Fort Lewis, Wash.

Depew's best attributes were on display in that brief visit before he left, his mother said. His "wise guy" sense of humor, his love of children, his hard work.

In that time, Depew talked to a class at his younger brothers' grade school about his Army training, visited his friends and spent a lot of time with his 18-month-old son, Brendan Faver.

"He loved kids and would do anything for them and he just loved talking to the kids and demonstrating some of his training," May said. "He was full of life and making everybody laugh, a real comedian."

In Iraq, Depew usually volunteered for the most dangerous assignments, May said.

Depew was on a Stryker military vehicle when it was attacked in Tal Afar, 40 miles west of Mosul. The lightly-armored Stryker can carry up to nine soldiers.

"He was a scout and he chose his missions," May said.

He is the 43rd soldier, sailor or Marine with ties to Indiana to die while serving in the Iraq War. At least three other Indiana soldiers have died serving in Afghanistan.

Mosul has been the scene of heavy fighting since November. U.S. military officials said it is a strategy by insurgents to disrupt the Jan. 30 elections.

Depew knew he wanted to be a soldier since eighth grade, his mother said. He enrolled in September 2003.

"He was going to the military, he wanted to serve his country," May said.

Mays said she talked to her son Sunday night.

"He told me to stop watching the news, that it made me worry too much," May said. "He was a hero. He gave his life for this country."