Tim Barnes, the sergeant's brother, said Nathan Barnes often wrote about his experiences with the children in Iraq. During one mission, he spent some time in a basement room with three little boys, who, he told his brother, reminded him of his family growing up.

"He got out his flashlight and made shadow puppets on the wall," he said. "He liked to make them laugh."

Blake said, with misty eyes, that she is sure her brother's death wasn't "just a mistake."

"It was for everyone's freedom," she said. "He would do it again, I know."

Kevin Barnes said the family expects the soldier's body home within seven to 10 days but have not made any funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that people make donations to a fund in Nathan Barnes' name at Zion's Bank. The family plans to donate the money to charities that help children in South America and Africa, charities the family thinks "Nathan would want to support," Kevin Barnes said.

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E-mail: estuart@desnews.com