40 29 TV -- CEDARVILLE, Ark. -- William Craig Comstock grew up in the River Valley. He played football and competed in track and field at both Cedarville and Alma schools.

He graduated from Alma High School in 2006 and shortly after joined the United States Marines.

The U.S. Department of Defense said Comstock died Wednesday in Iraq's Anbar Province as a result of a "non-hostile incident."

"I didn't want to believe it," said Leona Marston, Comstock's foster mother. "I wouldn't believe it until I heard it with my own ears; from somebody I knew."

Comstock attended Cedarville schools for grades 7-11. He was a member of the football and track and field teams.

"All the kids liked him," said Comstock's former coach Brad Ray. 'He was very pleasant to be around, a hard worker. You could always count on him to be there."

The last time Ray saw his former player was last spring.

"He was back from Iraq and was telling me about his world travels and how he was enjoying the military," said Ray.

Marston said she'll never forget the day her son surprised her with a visit.

"He came (to) church in uniform and I was real proud of him," said Marston.

Ray said Comstock will forever be in a special place in his heart.

"He was the type of kid that was very reliable," said Ray "He was always up to the challenge you posed to him."

Marston said her son touched a lot of lives in ways he'll never know.

"Everything was a challenge for him," Marston said. "He was just up for anything that came along and he laughed a lot. He had a big smile and he always showed that."

The U.S. Department of Defense is still investigating Comstock's death.

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Stephen Comstock, father of Cpl. William Craig Comstock, said he believed his son found that place in the Marine Corps and planned to make a career of the military.

"He seemed to be proud to be in the Marines, of serving his country and of serving in Iraq," said Brad Ray, Comstock's track coach at Cedarville High School. Ray said he last saw Comstock about nine months ago when he was home on leave.

Comstock, 21, of Van Buren died Wednesday in Iraq in a "nonhostile episode" in Anbar province, Iraq, according to the Department of Defense. Stephen Comstock said his son was mortally wounded from an accidental weapon discharge, but he hasn't received any information from the military about how the accident happened.

The Pentagon is investigating.

He said the military flew his son to an American military hospital in Germany where he died. The body arrived Wednesday at Dover Air Force Base, Del., in a flag-draped casket.

Stephen Comstock returned to Fort Smith on Thursday evening but said his son's remains are in transit to the area.

A private service is being planned at Ocker Funeral Home where arrangements were pend- ing Friday. Comstock said a memorial with full military honors is scheduled for 11 a.m. May 2 at Fort Smith National Cemetery.

He described Craig as independent, an outgrowth of his mother having left home when he was a baby. Comstock said he let his son have his independence and that his son was happy as a child.

"Even though he was from a single-parent home, he used that as motivation to excel and be a success," he said.

He described his son as outgoing and a defender of the weak. He belonged to several churches and was active in various youth groups.

He said his son attended grade school and high school up to his junior year in Cedarville. In 2004, he transferred to Alma High School, from which he graduated in 2005.

Craig Comstock was an outstanding athlete in football and track at both schools. Coaches said he was a hard worker.

Ray said Craig Comstock qualified for the state track meet in six events, including the 400 meter, 800 meter, mile and 2 mile races.

"Craig did not have a lot," Ray said. "His way of achieving was to do it out on the field or on the track."

Comstock strove to be liked and to find a place to belong, Ray said. He was well liked and looked up to by other students because of his athletic success.

At Alma, he was on the track team that set the school record for the outdoor 400 meter relay and the indoor 1,600 meter relay, Alma track Coach Tom McMurray said.

He always was willing to give of himself, McMurray said, and spent a lot of time working with younger members of the track team.

Comstock joined the Marine Corps in January 2007 and was assigned to the 2nd Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was deployed to Iraq in January and was trained as an ammunition technician.

His awards include the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.