“When he was in high school he didn’t care about life or anything, but he joined the service and his feelings changed,” Betts said. “He cared.”

Myers, 21, of Delaware, Ohio, died Sept. 8 after the vehicle he was in was bombed in Baji, Iraq. He was assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Myers, a 2006 graduate of Delaware Hayes (Ohio) High School, was a husband and father. He leaves behind his wife, Megan, and his 15-month-old daughter, Rowen.

Friends said they were proud of him for his growth and for serving their country.

“I’m going to miss you a lot!” Naples wrote. “You did your job and you did it well! Unfortunately you had to depart, but with honor.”

Tonya J. Latto, Myers' mother, had just returned yesterday from Dover, Del., where she and Myers' father, Jerry Myers, met their son's casket as it was returned to American soil.

Latto said Smith's mother also was in Delaware for the military ceremony that honored eight who were killed overseas.

Latto said her son talked about how much he liked Smith.

"He talked about Shannon all the time and about what a great a guy he was. He was a good friend who showed him the ropes," Latto said. "He thought very highly of him."

Smith's family declined to comment last night.

Zachary T. Myers' grandfather was a career soldier and his father served in Vietnam.

"He comes from a military family," said Zachary's uncle, Kevin Mooney of Delaware. "It was something he had to do."

Myers, a 2006 graduate of Rutherford B. Hayes High School, enlisted in February 2008.

Latto said she remembers her son as someone who did not go for discipline in high school.

"The family joke was that for most of his teenage years he was being brought home by police. Now, he is one," Latto said.

She said her son was kind and creative, and liked to ride sport motorcycles.

One time in high school, Myers got into an accident on a motorcycle and scraped up his face.

"He joked that he didn't have to wear a Halloween mask," Latto said.

After basic training, Myers was assigned to Fort Richardson in Alaska, as was Smith. They were part of the Arctic Military Police Battalion.

Mooney said he remembers his nephew talking about enjoying Army life.

"He absolutely loved it. He was so proud to be an MP and was very happy," Mooney said. "He was talking about making the Army a career."

Smith had been in the Army since September 1997. He had served tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia. Myers was scheduled to come home on leave this Saturday. He would be coming home to his wife, Megan, and their 14-month-old daughter, Rowen.

Latto said that Myers would have turned 22 on Sept. 23, and they were planning a party.

Now, the family will have to plan his funeral. The arrangements are pending. Myers also is survived by two brothers and his stepmother.

"The young man died with honor," Mooney said.