Saugus Advertiser -- Returning to Iraq for a second tour of duty just a few weeks ago, Scott Procopio of Saugus paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Procopio, an infantryman with the Third Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment, was killed when his armored Humvee was destroyed by a roadside bomb in the town of Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Baghdad. The 20-year-old was manning a machine gun atop the vehicle, the last vehicle in the column, when a bomb detonated beneath it.

Speaking for the Procopio family on the steps of Saugus Town Hall Monday afternoon, Scott's oldest brother, Michael, 22, said, "We're all extremely proud of Scott. He paid the ultimate sacrifice, and we're proud of the job he did."

The flags flew at half-staff in Scott's memory as his brother described the challenges Scott sought by enlisting in the Marines. "Scott always wanted the toughest job. He wanted the hardest service," added Michael Procopio, who called Scott "my best friend, my brother, and a Marine." Scott's father, Kevin, was seated nearby as Michael spoke to the media.

In early March, the Saugus marine was promoted from the rank of lance corporal to corporal before departing for his second tour of duty. He completed his first tour in Fallujah.

The Procopio family learned of Scott's death Sunday night when Marines came to their door.

Scott was a lifelong Saugus resident and a 2003 graduate of Saugus High School. He celebrated his marriage to Kristal (Cerbone) Procopio on Sept. 15, 2005. Kristal, a member of the Saugus High School Class of 2001, and Scott had lived off-base in Jacksonville, N.C. where he was stationed at Camp Lejeune.

Scott also leaves behind his mother, Mary, and two younger brothers, Greg, 17, and Mark, 14. He is survived by two grandmothers as well, Fran Procopio of Saugus, and Marta Shautt of Hindsville, Arkansas.

Scott was deployed to Iraq the first time in January 2005, returning to the states in August of 2005 with a chest full of ribbons, including several for valor in combat. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat "V" for his actions during the Abu Ghraib prison assault on April 2, 2005.

"Scott wanted to go into the service. He wanted to be an infantryman. He was excited and challenged by the opportunity to serve," said his older brother. Family and friends say Scott was truly committed to doing his part to bring about positive change in Iraq.

"Scott would send home e-mails about the long lines of people on voting day in Iraq," recalled Michael Procopio, who noted that Scott was "buoyed up" to be there on such occasions.

Michael Procopio added that religion played a big role in his brother's life. "He came to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and he drew a tremendous amount of courage, security and strength from that relationship, and knowing that whatever happened, his future was secure."

'Looking to help'

News of Scott's death sent shock waves throughout town. Word traveled quickly Monday morning at the high school, where Principal Joseph Diorio made counselors available to both students and teachers who had difficulty coming to grips with the tragedy. Scott's youngest brother Mark is a student at SHS.

Diorio recalled Scott as an upbeat student who was well liked by his peers. "Everyone who knew him enjoyed his company," Diorio said. "The young man always had a smile on his face and was looking to help other people."

High School teacher Greg MacDonald had Scott as a student in both his U.S. history class junior year and his economics class senior year. MacDonald struck up a friendship with Scott and remained close to him after he graduated in 2003. He was one of several teachers who Michael Procopio met with individually at the high school on Monday to break the news of his brother's death. MacDonald said he was aware that Scott returned to Iraq earlier last month because Scott's cousin is currently enrolled in one of his classes. Every time MacDonald saw a report of a Marine killed in action, he immediately thought of his former student. "The other day when I heard about the roadside bomb in the news I prayed that it wasn't Scott who was killed, but it was," MacDonald said. "I'm devastated - it's tough to even talk about this."

In many ways, MacDonald said Scott was the typical teenager - a little mischievous but always respectful to his classmates and teachers. He added that Scott was very religious and close to his family, spending much of his free time working for his father's construction company.

MacDonald shared one story that he feels accurately reflects the type of person Scott was. He remembered the year Scott showed up in his classroom after a vacation week sporting a tan. When MacDonald found out Scott spent the week in Mexico, he asked him what resort he stayed at. Scott replied that he spent the week building homes for underprivileged Mexican citizens, showing how at a young age, Scott was already looking out for others.

When Scott had free time on his hands, he liked to work on classic cars and trucks. He really enjoyed rebuilding quads and motorcycles with parts he found on eBay, then turning around and selling them for a profit. Eventually Scott stepped up to tinkering with bigger vehicles.

Michael Procopio said his brother spent many lazy afternoons mudding around the Vinegar Hill neighborhood in a Ford F250 pickup, and when he departed for the Marine Corps, he left a half-finished '78 Camaro sitting in the family garage.

Cliftondale Congregational Church Pastor Bob Leroe, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who served as a chaplain in Operation Desert Storm and Bosnia, stressed the importance of honoring the contribution this fallen Marine made to his country. Leroe said Scott is the first Saugus soldier to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Due to the logistical complexities involved when a solider dies overseas, family members had yet to make funeral arrangements by the Advertiser's deadline. Michael Procopio did say the family intends to hold a full military service and burial in Saugus, the town Scott loved and gave his life to protect.

"There's no greater test of character than laying down your life for your country, and that's what my brother did," Michael Procopio said.

In lieu of flowers the family has set up the Cpl. Scott J. Procopio Memorial Scholarship Fund in his memory. The plan is to give the scholarship to a deserving Saugus High School student each year.

Anyone interested in making a donation can mail a check to the Cpl. Scott J. Procopio Memorial Scholarship Fund, care of Saugusbank, PO Box 988, Saugus, Ma, 01906.