2nd Lt. Therrel Shane Childers was described as a born leader, serious and focused, who built his life around being a Marine.

“His idea of fun was skiing, backpacking, anything to keep in shape for the Marines,” said Army Sgt. Richard Brown, Childers’ brother-in-law.

Childers grew up in a military family primarily in Harrison County, Miss., and enlisted after high school. He served in the 1991 Gulf War, and in 2001 he completed the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program at The Citadel.

Retired Master Sgt. Steve Whitten said his wife often ribbed Childers about being single. “He had plenty of girls after him,” Whitten said, but “Shane was married to the Marine Corps.”

— Associated Press