Miami Herald -- Marine Lance Cpl. Gael Saintvil was a quiet, humorous and dedicated man who enjoyed being big brother to his four younger siblings.
Saintvil, 24, who was born in Miami and moved with his family to Orlando in 1988 after first grade, became the 62nd service person from Florida to die in the war in Iraq. He perished Wednesday along with 30 fellow soldiers when the helicopter carrying them crashed.
''He was a very decent gentleman with enthusiasm and with a goal to do the best he could,'' said his father, Belga Saintvil.
His son eventually wanted to be an engineer or a policeman.
Belga Saintvil said his son was a sharpshooter in a special security forces unit and had been in Iraq for four months. He saw action in the battle of Fallujah in November, but the father had no details of where his son was going when the helicopter crashed.
''First of all he was a big brother,'' Saintvil said. Gael played basketball and football regularly with his siblings, took them to movies and helped him with their homework.
He was a hero to his younger brother, Blasher Saintvil, 14.
''He always helped me. When I needed something he was there for me,'' he said. ``He called me every chance he got.''
In his grief, Belga Saintvil said he is proud of his son.
''This is my son, my flesh and blood who is dying for the country we love the most,'' said Saintvil, 50, a truck driver and laborer for Walt Disney World, who moved to Miami from Haiti in 1975.
The family still has more than 50 relatives in the Miami area, he said.
''I support the country 100 percent in whatever we do. I don't like the war, but we have to do what we have to do,'' Saintvil said.
As a student, Gael Saintvil made a lasting impression.
''He was a meek and pleasant person,'' said Erea Searcy, who had been Saintvil's counselor at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando. ``He was well mannered. He was a very good kid.''
After high school, Saintvil attended a business school for a year in Orlando, then joined the Marines four years ago.
When the war started in Iraq, young Saintvil was stationed in Hawaii, but even then he was eager to go to Iraq to serve with fellow Marines, his father said.
Belga Saintvil talked to his son just two days before he died.
'He said, `Pappy, don't worry. I'm going to be OK,' '' his father said.