Nathan Clemons grew up on Alderman Road in Jacksonville, received his diploma through Terry Parker High School and was active in the youth group and band at University Boulevard Nazarene Church before joining the Marines early last year.

On Tuesday, the 20-year-old private first class was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq while serving with the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.

"It is one of the fears that a family always lives with when you know that your son is in Iraq," said Mike Jackson, pastor of Nazarene Church, who has known Clemons' family for about 35 years. "We all feel very proud of Nathan that this is the course he chose, to serve the country."

His parents, David and Linda Clemons, moved to Tennessee a few years ago, but his grandmother and stepgrandfather Ruth and Sam Southerland, aunt and uncle Debbie and Eddie Mims, and cousins Jennifer Pruett and Crystal Wallace still live in Jacksonville. Clemons also is survived by an older sister, Meghan Clemons. It wasn't clear Thursday if she still lives in Jacksonville.

The family declined to be interviewed.

"He saw the military as a way to mature and grow up and get some responsibility," said Jackson, adding that Clemons' innate drive and passion were clear in his choice of service.

"When he chose military service he was like, 'If I'm going to do this, I'm going to be in the Marines. If I'm going to be in the Marines, I'm going to be in the infantry,'" Jackson said.

He said Clemons called his parents early Tuesday to tell them that, even if something happened to him, he was going to "be all right."

Marine Pfc. Nathan Clemons is shown in uniform in Iraq. Clemons, who grew up in Jacksonville, died Tuesday in Iraq.

"He meant all right spiritually, in his soul," Jackson said. "It's giving them [Clemons' family] great comfort now to know that spiritually, he was where he needed to be. He was facing the danger with strong faith in God. For people of faith, that's where our hope really lies."

Clemons' friends remember him as an avid drummer and outdoorsman who was exceptionally good-natured, well-mannered and committed to his family, friends and church.

Before joining the military and eventually being based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., he frequently discussed the Marines with his childhood friend Patrick Jenkins.

"He knew full well what he was getting into," said Jenkins, now a student at Trebecca Nazarene University. "I agree with him that all Americans should put in a couple of years into the service because that's what made us who we are today.

"He was a man's man. He was tough, but he loved what he did."

Clemons' youth pastor and close friend Rodney Neighbors said Clemons saw in the Marines an opportunity to "prove to people that he could be something."

"Once he was in, he was like, 'Man, this is my mission in life, this is what I want to be.' He was proud to be a Marine," Neighbors said.

The funeral will be Saturday morning in Tennessee, near his parents' home. A memorial service in Jacksonville will be late next week, but details haven't yet been released.