The Mercury News -- KAWKAWLIN, Mich. - Army Pfc. Alan R. Blohm said he had good news when he called home from Iraq on Christmas Eve - he was moving to better quarters.

"He and some of the other soldiers had just gotten to move into a bigger tent," said Jeremy Blohm. "He was happy that he got to sleep in a real bed and said they had three big TVs."

On New Year's Eve, the family learned that the 21-year-old soldier had been killed that day from injuries he received in an explosion. The Pentagon said his unit was on patrol in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated nearby.

He had been stationed in the area about three months, his family said.

"A plain car pulled up," said Jeremy Blohm, 26. "My mom knew right away what it was."

Blohm enlisted two years ago and went through basic training at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Blohm was assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Fort Richardson.

"He wanted to serve the country," his brother said. "His grandfather had been in the Army, and it's just something he wanted to do."

On Wednesday, Gov. Jennifer Granholm ordered U.S. flags in Michigan lowered to half-staff Thursday through Tuesday in honor of five Army soldiers and a Marine from the state who were killed in Iraq in Dec. 21-28.

Thursday's flag-lowering is in memory of Army Spc. Chad J. Vollmer, 24, of Grand Rapids; Friday's is for Army Pvt. Bobby Mejia II, 20, of Saginaw; Saturday's is for Army Pfc. Andrew H. Nelson, 19, of St. Johns; Sunday's is for Army Sgt. Curtis L. Norris, 28, of Ingham County's Ingham Township; Monday's is for Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Burgess, 21, of Midland County's Hope Township; and Tuesday's is for Army Pfc. Wilson A. Algrim, 21, of Howell.

The flag-lowering for Alan Blohm will be announced later.

Blohm graduated in 2004 from Bay City Western High School, where he was a 250-pound defensive player for the football team. Blohm's size prompted coach Jim Eurick to nickname him "Biggins Blohm," his brother recalled.

"He loved football," Jeremy Blohm said.

In a 2004 story in The Bay City Times about students' views on privacy and civil liberties, Blohm said, "The First Amendment is what makes this country great."

Mark Boileau, principal of St. Bartholomew Lutheran School, said that his former student was a "likable kid" and a leader at the school.

"I know he paid the ultimate sacrifice with his life," Boileau said. "We know Alan will be in a better place because of the sacrifice he made, because of his love for our country."

Besides his brother, Alan Blohm is survived by parents Chris and Denise Blohm and sister Kiana Blohm, an eighth grader at St. Bartholomew.