GoUpstate.com -- Joey Sams knew something was wrong when he and his wife, Annie, hadn't heard from their son, who was serving in Kuwait, in more than a week.

Wednesday morning, they received the news that their only son and Sams' namesake, Joey T. Sams II, 21, a private first class in the Army, had died from injuries he suffered from being pinned between two vehicles. The circumstances surrounding his death are still under investigation.

"They came to the house while I was at work yesterday (Wednesday) morning to tell us," Sams said. "My daughter and wife called me crying, telling me I needed to come home."

Thursday night, the family sat shrouded in grief in their quiet east-side home. The living room was packed with friends, with folding chairs in the foyer to accommodate the overflow. Annie Sams was too distraught to talk. The keen sense of loss was clearly etched in her features as she turned back to the blaring distraction of the television set in the corner of the room. A platter of fried chicken on the kitchen table sat untouched.

"All of my family, especially my kids, are very close," Sams said.

Two of the Sams' daughters, Felecie, 20, and Jennifer, 19, haven't heard the news about their big brother yet. Sams said they are waiting for them to get back from college this weekend to tell them in person. His youngest, Markisha, 17, is taking it hard.

"We're just trying to get it all together," Sams said. "We only found out yesterday morning."

His son had only been in Kuwait for three weeks, Sams said. He was serving as gunman on a tank with the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

"He'd bring his friends home from Fort Benning, and they all bragged on him, talking about how my son was good at everything he does, how he was the fastest in his platoon," Sams said. "We were very proud of him. We still are."

Sams said his son joined the Army a year ago as an avenue to achieve his dream of becoming a police detective like his uncle.

"It was his dream," Sams said. "He loved 'Law and Order' and all that."

The 2004 Spartanburg High School alumnus graduated six months early and attended Spartanburg Community College for two years before enlisting.

"He was studying computer technology," Sams said. "He could break computers down and build them like yo•wouldn't believe."

He said his son loved martial arts and had a black belt in karate. "He was very smart and always had friends," Sams said. "Everyone loved him."

Sams said the funeral will be in Winterhaven, Fla., where the family is from.