Chillicothe Gazette -- A Ross County reservist who was just a few days shy of his 22nd birthday and headed home in about a month was one of nine Ohioans killed in a Wednesday attack on his unit in Iraq.

Lance Cpl. Aaron Reed, 21, of Chillicothe, a 2001 Southeastern High School graduate, was one of nine reservists killed from Lima Company based in Columbus. He is the second Ross County native to die in the Iraq war - both this year.

"He's sure going to be missed at home," Reed's friend, Jamie Barker, told NBC 4 News. "He actually called my brother on Sunday to tell him he was going to be coming home next month."

Fourteen Marines were killed in the roadside bombing.

The Marines were members of the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines based out of Brook Park outside Cleveland, according to Gunnery Sgt. Brad R. Lauer, public affairs chief with the unit.

The Marines, assigned to Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), were killed early Wednesday when an improvised explosive device hit their vehicle, the military said. Another Marine was wounded in the attack, which happened outside Haditha, about 140 miles northwest of Baghdad.

Reed's mother, Sara Duvall, is an art teacher in the Southeastern school district. In 2001, Reed graduated from the school, where he ran cross country and served as senior class president.

Duvall, who has another son, Matthew Reed, in the military and stationed in Afghanistan, was notified of Reed's death Wednesday, and the Defense Department released the name Thursday.

News of Reed's death spread swiftly through the area.

"I think it's really sad another soldier from Ross County has been killed," said Rikki Abrams, of Richmond Dale. "I know it's not the popular opinion, but bring them home."

The attack was the worst roadside bombing targeting American forces in the Iraq war.

Lima Company also lost four Marines in another attack in May, said Master Sgt. Stephen Walter, the company's public affairs officer.

Frankfort native Gavin Colburn, a specialist in the U.S. Army, was killed April 22 in a roadside bomb attack in Iraq.

In Ross County, Reed was a popular Southeastern graduate who served as senior class president and ran cross country and track. Reed, 21, was also a member of the Marine Reserves, serving in Iraq with 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, Lima Company, based in Columbus.