The Star-Banner — Former classmates and administrators described Army Spc. Jason B. Koutroubas as a smart, quiet student who always wanted to join the military. "There was no doubt about that," said Michael McClain Jr., a friend. "He was looking forward to going to college when he got back."

Koutroubas died Oct. 14 in Tal Afar, Iraq, according to the Department of Defense. Koutroubas, 21, suffered his fatal injuries in a non-combat-related incident. The death is under investigation.

His parents' home near Dunnellon was quiet Tuesday afternoon. An American flag waved in the afternoon breeze. A truck with an "Army Dad" tag was parked in the yard.

A relative, identified as Koutroubas' aunt, answered the door at the family home but declined to say much.

"They are just devastated by this," she said of the family.

Koutroubas, who was married and has an infant daughter, was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas. He was a common ground station analyst.

He joined the Army in June 2005, shortly after his graduation from Dunnellon High School. Koutroubas' unit deployed to Iraq in November 2006 to provide stability and security operations. His death is the 29th from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

McClain said he had just exchanged a weekly e-mail with Koutroubas last week. His friend was excited at the prospect of coming home by year's end. They met in second grade, when they attended school together in Yankeetown.

"We went to school together forever. We hung out, played sports . . . . he was a good kid . . . . smart," McClain said. "He was always a soldier, always fighting for something and he always wanted to go into the military."

McClain said some of Koutroubas' e-mails provided a glimpse of what life was like in the war zone.

"He was glad he had the night shift because it was cooler and darker then, and he felt safer," McClain said. "He said there were a lot of sandstorms too, and he missed trees."

The good friends did not share musical tastes. Koutroubas favored heavy metal bands. Several of his favorites, including Korn, are listed on his MySpace page, where his user name is "Flying Penguin."

"I'm not sure where he came up with that name," McClain said.

Master Sgt. Allen Burlison, an instructor with the Air Force JROTC program at Dunnellon High, remembered Koutroubas joining in the program in 2004 during his senior year.

"By the time he came to us, he had already decided to join the Army and was on delayed enlistment. I think his recruiter told him it would be a good idea if he worked with us in ROTC," Burlison said. "He was a good cadet, did everything we asked him to do, and if he had been with us longer, I'm sure he would have been in a leadership role."

Burlison said Koutroubas' death was difficult to handle, especially as he talks with current cadets. His own son, in the National Guard, is set for deployment to Iraq in December.

"It's hard when it's someone this young. But this is a part of what war is about and we talked about that today in fact," he said. "For those who will go into the military, this is a reality of the job, and sometimes that means you have to give your life."

Robert Robinson, 18, a senior at Dunnellon High, was a freshman when Koutroubas joined ROTC.

"I remember him from the field trips we took. He was a real quiet but cool kid," Robinson said.

Robinson plans to enter the Navy in July. While news of Koutroubas' death is upsetting, it won't deter him.

Alicia Rome, 17, also a Dunnellon senior, said Koutroubas kept her and other cadets motivated to do their best.

"He always made sure our uniform was right, and we could go to him if we had a problem and could not find Sgt. Burlison.

"I want to go in the Army," she continued. "And if I'm sent to Iraq, I'll be fighting for Jason."

By Harriet Daniels, Star-Banner Staff Reporter
The Star-Banner is a member of the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group
Reprinted with permission