New York Post -- March 10, 2007 -- A Brooklyn-born soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad on Wednesday, only six months after he celebrated the greatest day of young life - the birth of his daughter.

Army Spc. Michael D. Rivera's little girl, Joycelin - named after his beloved mother - was born Sept. 6 in Korea, where he was stationed.

"She was my first grandchild. She was born on my birthday," Rivera's mother, Joycelin Diaz-Perks, said before bursting into tears.

"He was thrilled she was born on that day," recalled his father José Diaz. "Because he loved his mother so much."

At about the same time, Rivera received more good news. He was being transferred to Fort Benning, Ga., where cousin Edward Rivera, a veteran of two tours in Iraq, was stationed.

"We were happy to be together again," said Edward, 20. "[But] his order got changed. He went to Fort Hood in Texas. I knew they were deploying to Iraq. I told him, 'I know from experience, it won't be so bad.' I made him promise me he was coming home."

At one point in his tour, Edward even teased Rivera that it was up to him to "save the day" in Baghdad.

"He loved his job," Edward said. "If there was a perfect model to get into the Army, Michael would be it."