Marine Sgt. Peter Woodall, 25, a 1999 graduate of Riverview High School, died Friday during combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, and became the ninth serviceman connected to Manatee and Sarasota counties killed in the Iraq war.

Overwhelmed at the news, Woodall's family had a friend talk to the media in front of the home of his parents, Elizabeth and Richard Woodall, on Ashton Manor Drive.

Woodall's wife, Joanne, and 3-year-old son, Jacob, were at their home in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Woodall has a sister, Katie, who attends Sarasota Military Academy, and a brother, Bart.

"I was very close with Pete," said the family spokesman, Wes Boland, who went to high school with Woodall.

Boland said he has many fond memories of his friend.

"He was the kind of guy where there never was a dull moment," he said. "And he would do anything for you."

The last time Boland spoke to Woodall was during a phone call from Kuwait. The last time he saw his friend was right before he was to ship out on his second tour in Iraq.

"It was right here in this driveway," Boland said, swallowing the sadness in his throat.

Woodall joined the Marine Corps June 19, 2000, according to a press release from Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune.

His death is the second for the Manatee and Sarasota communities in less than a week. U.S. Army Spc. Christopher M. North, a 2003 Lakewood Ranch High School graduate, was killed in Iraq on April 21.

Nine service men with family connections to Manatee and Sarasota have died since the war began more than four years ago.

North, 21, was killed three months into his first tour of duty when his vehicle came under small arms and improvised explosive device attack in Baghdad on April 21, according to a Department of Defense news release.

He was buried Sunday at Sarasota Memorial Park with full military honors.

Woodall was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Woodall was trained as an explosives ordnance disposal technician joining EOD Company, 2nd MLG on Jan. 16, 2006.

"It was a very dangerous job," Boland said, "but he never talked about any close calls."

During his first tour in Iraq, Woodall served about eight months.

"He didn't think twice about joining (the Marines)," Boland said. "He said he knew he had a job to do."

Woodall was a member of the JROTC program in high school and had talked about becoming a Florida Highway Patrol trooper when he finished his service time, Boland said.

"We were surprised when Pete said he was going back in," he said. "He gave 110 percent all the time."

Boland said he and Woodall always hung out together and played paintball a lot.

"I've known him since we were about 15," he said. "If anybody was in trouble he would be there to help."

Woodall was born in Poland, and moved to Chicago when he was 8 years old.

The family then moved to Sarasota when he was around 13 and his friends nicknamed him "Vodka," a play on his family name, Wloka.

After becoming an adult, Woodall took his step-father's last name.

Boland said Woodall met his wife while she was visiting the U.S. from Poland. They have been married for about 4 years.

"He was a great husband and father," Boland said.

During high school, Woodall worked at Sugar and Spice Restaurant, on Cattleman Road, not far from his parents' home.

He then worked with Boland at Sports Authority in the same shopping center before joining the Marines just days after graduation.

"This hit me like a ton of bricks," Boland said, as he faced a bank of television cameras and reporters in the driveway of the home. "I'm honored to be his friend."

Those at Sugar and Spice, who remembered Woodall, were shocked and saddened by the news.

"He was a friendly guy," said assistant manager Michael Labady. "We worked together as busboys about nine years ago.

"Peter had a really big smile," Labady said. "He was always cheerful and kidding around."

He was promoted to the rank of sergeant Dec. 1, 2004, and decorated with the Purple Heart Medal, two awards of the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Woodall will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery near the nation's capital. Funeral arrangements are still pending.