Ryan J. Buckley

Monday, June 26 2006 @ 11:56 AM EDT

The State Journal Register -- NOKOMIS - Few words can describe the heartache Sally Nation is experiencing after losing her son in combat.

"It's any mother's worst nightmare come true," Nation said Sunday night from her Nokomis home.

But even fewer words can convey the deep sense of pride she feels when recalling the life of 21-year-old Cpl. Ryan J. Buckley.

"I'm so proud of him. There are no words to describe how I feel about him," she said.

Buckley, a 101st Airborne soldier, was killed when a roadside bomb, or improvised explosive device, detonated near his patrol in Baghdad on Friday, the Army said. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team. Nation said Buckley joined the Army in March 2004, less than a year after graduating high school in Hillsboro in 2003.

"Ryan joined the Army to do what he was doing. He was a proud soldier," she said. "This is exactly his purpose. He told me he wanted to protect our country, and the infantry is where he wanted to be."

Nation said the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks instilled a deep sense of patriotism within Buckley's behalf.

"He came home from school that day - he was in high school - and he told me when he was old enough, he was going to protect our country. As a mother, I hoped that feeling might go away," she said.

Buckley came to Fort Campbell, Ky. in July 2004. The sprawling Army base straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

During his career, Buckley's awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal.

He married his wife, Tina, of Oak Grove, Ky., and the two celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary on June 18. Buckley also is survived by his father, Dennis Buckley of Hannibal, Mo.; his brother, Cody Buckley, 19; a stepbrother, Aaron Nation, 21; a stepsister, Danielle Nation, 18, and his stepfather, Russell Nation.

While in Baghdad, Nation said her son was the gunner on his Humvee.

"He didn't give me details of his life there. He protected me from that," she said.

Despite her own grief, Nation said she's thankful her son was the only soldier killed in the attack. The three other soldiers on the Humvee were injured but should make a full recovery, which is what Buckley would have wanted, she said.

"Thank goodness Ryan was the only one killed," she said. "I know he didn't suffer, and that somehow relieves (the pain) a little."

Nation said she is fortunate to have a large amount of support from family and friends as she awaits word from the Army to plan her son's services.

She said Buckley was home on leave in March, and it was then he told her he planned on making the Army his career. He had been in Iraq since December.

"Ryan was an awesome guy," she said. "He died doing what he was proud of doing."

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