Daily Star -- One of the Marines killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq on Wednesday was originally from East Meredith.

Lance Cpl. Fred L. Maciel, 20, was killed when the helicopter he was in crashed near Ar Rutbah, Iraq, according to the Department of Defense. Thirty one U.S. troops died in the crash.

"He was a kind son," Maciel’s father, Fred Copenhaver, said Friday. "He’d basically do anything for anybody."

Copenhaver and Maciel’s stepmother, Edna Copenhaver, live in East Meredith.

Maciel was based out of Hawaii. Before going to Hawaii, Copenhaver said, Maciel lived in Spring, Texas, with his mother, Patsy Maciel.

Wednesday’s crash was the deadliest event for American forces in Iraq since the start of the operation in March 2003.

"He had to fly over to the elections," Copenhaver said. "He was going to be there for the elections."

Copenhaver, 49, said he talked to his son for the last time early Sunday morning when Maciel called.

"He was happy," Copenhaver said. "He was telling me everything he was doing."

Copenhaver heard about his son’s death Wednesday afternoon.

The U.S. Marines Recruiting Office in Oneonta confirmed the death Thursday, said Katrina Matthews, Maciel’s stepsister.

"We knew, but we just wanted a final say," Matthews said.

The last time Maciel had been to the area was in June, Matthews said, before he went to Iraq.

"That was the last time we had seen him," Matthews said Friday. "We’re so glad he did (come to the area.)"

Maciel was supposed to return to the States after this month’s elections in Iraq.

"He was headed home. He had plans," Copenhaver said. "He didn’t make it."

Matthews, 31, said Maciel loved children, and her children loved him.

"They just idolized him," Matthews said.

"He was a kind, caring, loving person," she said. "He was great."

Maciel was engaged to Jamie Hommel, who lives in Texas.

"She’s not doing good at all," Copenhaver said. "She’s taking it pretty hard."

Maciel and Hommel planned to wed once Maciel came back from Iraq, Copenhaver said.

"He had plans to get married," Copenhaver said. "He had plans to go on his honeymoon."

Hommel had already started to plan the wedding, he said.

She had been shopping with her mother a few weeks ago.

"They went out and bought the wedding rings and the wedding dress," Copenhaver said.

Maciel graduated from Spring High School in Texas in 2003. He joined the Marines that September.

"He was determined to do it when he was in school," Matthews said.

There were changes in her stepbrother, Matthews said, after he joined.

"He went there to mature a little," Matthews said. "(In June) he’d matured and grown so much since we had seen him."

Joining the Marines, Copenhaver said, was something his son always wanted.

"He was a heck of a fighter," Copenhaver said. "He went to Fallujah to fight."

Maciel went to Iraq last year, Matthews said.

"He was going to go," she said. "We just didn’t know where."

Matthews said the service and burial may be next Saturday, but a definite time and date haven’t been set.

The family needs to wait for Maciel’s body to be flown back from Iraq, she said.

Maciel will be buried in Texas. His service will also be there.

"His mom, Patsy, feels he would have wanted it that way," Matthews said.

Copenhaver said his son died a hero.

"He wanted to fight for his country," Copenhaver said. "He wanted to serve.

"He loved his country."