Lance Cpl. Jonathan Edward Etterling, 22, died Wednesday along with 29 other Marines and one sailor.

His parents said they were still trying to come to grips with their son's death.

"The dog was barking, I saw the Marines and she let them in and she was white and I was white and then they told us our worst nightmare," said his father, Bill Etterling.

The Etterlings said they last heard from their son on Saturday. They said he sounded tired but was happy with the work he and his comrades were doing in Iraq.

Etterling joined the Marines after graduating from Wheelersburg High School in 2002, where he played football and ran on the track team.

His former teachers said he was a good and loyal person who always knew what he wanted to do.

"He wanted to serve his country," said Mike Lovenguth, one of his former teachers. "Most people don't know what they want to do, but he did at a young age."

News of Etterling's death traveled fast through his hometown. Flags were lowered to half-staff and his alma mater set up a memorial.

Funeral arrangements depend on when Etterling's body will be flown home from Iraq.

But despite their loss, his parents said they will continue to support the war in Iraq and will always remember their son as an American hero.

"The hardest part is when everyone goes home and we have to pick up our lives," Kay Etterling said.