The Beacon Journal -- FAIRFIELD, Ohio - An Ohio Marine who aspired to teach disabled students was killed by an explosion during fighting in Iraq, his father said Wednesday.

Lance Cpl. Taylor Prazynski, 20, of Fairfield, died Monday at a hospital in Fallujah after suffering shrapnel wounds from the explosion, according to a military report given to his family.

"My son is a hero, not just because he died, but because he was there in support of what he believed," John Prazynski said. "He told me the greatest thing any father would want to hear from his son - that he was where he was supposed to be, doing what he was supposed to be doing."

During his senior year at Fairfield High School in this southwest Ohio town, Taylor Prazynski helped students with disabilities. Friends said he wanted to earn money for college so he could become a special-education teacher.

"He was big enough to bend over and help somebody else," said Gary Staggs, an aide in a class for students with disabilities. "He helped kids, but he also wanted to help society. He wanted to make a difference in Iraq."

Prazynski also played football for the high school team.

"When you're a coach and want to develop a team, you want kids like him," head coach Scott Datillo said. "He bought into the team concept."

John Prazynski said his son enlisted in the Marines in the fall of 2003 and was deployed to Iraq in January with the 2nd Marine Division.

Prazynski said he last talked to his son Friday.

"He was his jovial self," he said. "He was loved by many. He will be missed by many. He was a gift from God."

Fairfield is about 15 miles north of Cincinnati.