Brewton Standard -- An Escambia County family learned late Thursday that their son, a Marine, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq earlier that day.

Christopher Winchester, son of Gail and Greg Williams of Flomaton and Al Winchester of Brewton, was working border patrols near Jordan when he was killed, his mother said. He was 24.

Winchester joined the Marines in February, 2003, and began his duty in Iraq in March of this year. He was expected home in September.

He was a compassionate soldier who joined the military for a chance at a better life, Mrs. Williams said.

"He had ambition and wanted money for college," Mrs. Williams said. "There were just so many traps he could have fallen into around here. He saw where it was leading if he stayed, so he joined the Marines."

He matured in the military, she said.

"It taught him self-discipline and self-respect," Mrs. Williams said. "His family values were a lot different. He bonded with the other guys in the service. Once that happens, the desire to serve the country grows."

Mrs. Williams said her son was first excited, then hesitant when he got orders to Iraq.

"He was definitely glad he was there because he saw we were needed," she said. "And he ell in love with the children."

She said her son shared with her a story of a British-Iraqi family he met while working border patrol.

"They were running and trying to get over the Jordanian border," she said. "The British and Americans are targeted. The border was closed, so they were going to sleep on the street waiting for the border to open.

Winchester and his fellow Marines on patrol took the family back to their camp so they would be protected until the border reopened.

"I had sent him a wristband like the young people were around here that said, 'saved by grace,' Mrs. Williams said. "He gave it to the family's 12-year-old daughter. She told him he was her hero."

Winchester also was a hero to his niece and four nephews.

"He had arranged with me to get his 16-year-old nephew money for his first car," she said. The nephew was supposed to pick up the car last weekend, but the plans were delayed by Hurricane Dennis.

"Chris was that way," his mother said. "If you needed something, he gave it to you."

A 2000 graduate of Flomaton High School, Winchester was the grandson of Leo and Janell Winchester of Brewton; the late Jim and Ella Ree Smith; Wanda Darby; and Arnie and Pat Williams.

He was vice president of his senior class, was voted most attractive in senior class favorites, and was president of the JAGS program.

Mrs. Williams said her son loved what he did.

"He was coming home in September," she said. "He was looking forward to spending time on the creek bank and fishing and getting before he left. He was saved before he left.

"We taped our services and sent them to him and he shared them with the other guys."

Funeral services had not been set when at press time. Mrs. Williams was scheduled to meet with military chaplains Saturday afternoon.

Congressman Jo Bonner was among those who expressed his sympathy and appreciation of Winchester.

"I was very sorry to learn of Christopher's death in Iraq, and my thoughts and prayers are certainly with his parents and his other family and friends at this time," U.S. Congressman Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, said. "It is always a tragic occurrence whenever the life of a single soldier, sailor, airman, or marine - particularly one as young as Christopher - comes to such an early end.  However, I hope his family draws some measure of comfort from the fact that he served proudly and did his duty and in the finest traditions of the Marine Corps.  I am also confident that the family will draw a great deal of strength and support from the Brewton and Flomaton communities."