The Free Lance-Star -- Army Staff Sgt. Robert Stanley, a Spotsylvania County native, was killed Monday in one of two incidents in Iraq that left nine U.S. soldiers dead.

On his fourth overseas deployment, Stanley, 27, was a squad leader with the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment from Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division. He went to Iraq in August for what was supposed to be a yearlong tour.

Stanley enlisted in the Army in October 1999, according to his father, Robert Stanley, co-owner of Shannon Airport.

An only son, the younger Stanley was the first of the family to join the military.

"Since he was a preteen, his aim in life was either to be a policeman or to be in the Army," the elder Stanley said.

Stanley initially enlisted for three years, but re-enlisted twice. He probably would have been a career soldier, his father said.

Stanley's unit was patrolling for insurgents when they tripped an Improvised Explosive Device. The incident happened at 2:03 p.m. Iraq time, or 6:03 a.m. local time, his father said.

"You're always worried that something like that would happen, but it's what he wanted to do and we supported him 100 percent," Stanley said.

The family found about their son's death Monday night, when an Army colonel and chaplain showed up at their door.

They are relying on their memories to get them through.

"He was a happy young man," Stanley said. "He was one of the most respectful young men around he was never a problem child. All our memories are good."

Sgt. Stanley could have chosen not to re-enlist, but his father said serving in the Army gave his son purpose.

"He felt that he was doing good in Iraq. He felt that he was accomplishing something," he said. "He really didn't like war, but it was his job. He'd much rather have peacetime, but it was his job, so he did it well."

Stanley attended Fredericksburg Christian Schools through the ninth grade, then transferred to Spotsylvania High School.

He ran track and played football until he hurt his ankle.

Although it had been awhile, Gary Foss, founder of Fredericksburg Christian, remembered Stanley as "one of the boys."

"He was just a kid at that point in time, but he always had an interest in the military. He always wanted to be a soldier," Foss said.

Home on leave one year, Stanley met his wife, Jayme, then a Mary Washington College student. She was from Delaware, but moved to Fayetteville, N.C., to be with him. The couple didn't have children.

A funeral will be held in Fredericksburg, but arrangements are pending. Stanley's father said his son will get a full military funeral.

"He really is a hero, and they're going to treat him as such," he said.