Terry W. Prater

Monday, March 19 2007 @ 05:33 AM EDT

WATE.com -- SPEEDWELL (WATE) -- A Claiborne County family is just beginning to mourn the loss of a young soldier.

25-year-old Staff Sergeant Terry W. Prater was killed in blast when they came upon an explosive device in Eastern Baghdad, during a search mission.

Prater was serving with the 1st Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st U.S. Cavalry Division based in Fort Hood, Texas.

Three other soldiers died in the bombing.

6 News spoke to Prater's wife, Amy, she says this is the news every military family dreads. Prater says her husband loved serving his country.

"He was one of the greatest soldiers in the world, one of the best fathers, best husband."

Prater is now a proud military wife. Two of her best friends came in from Fort Hood, Texas to stay by her side during this tragic time.

" This is your worst fear come true. You keep thinking somebody is going to call and say they were wrong, but you know that they're not."

Staff Sergeant Prater loved being on the front lines of the war on terror. Despite the superman face he tried to put on, his wife says deep down, he was afraid.

"He was scared to death he just didn't want to show it."

Now, the small community of Speedwell has lost a soldier, and two young children, ages five and two, have lost a father.

"My son just can't understand the concept of his daddy being gone and that's going to take time, and if he never heals I'll understand ."

This was Sgt. Prater's second tour of duty in Iraq. He was deployed last October.

Prater won a purple heart and silver star in 2004, for shoving a soldier out of the way when someone threw grenades at them.

Amy Prater says her husband loved to fish. They plan to cremate him, then scatter his ashes on Lake Norris. The family is hoping someone in the community will come forward and let them borrow a Ranger fishing boat so they can do that.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

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