A family is grieving the loss of a Kentucky soldier killed while fighting overseas.

22-year-old William McMillan III died Tuesday in Iraq when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb.

McMillan, who was a member of the U.S. Army, was due home in September. We're told he has been stationed in Iraq for seven months.

He leaves behind his wife, Elizabeth, who is a student at UK. We're told they married within the last year.

On Wednesday the parents of William McMillan, as well as his wife, were at Camp Nelson. We're told that's where the funeral will be held for William McMillan, with full military honors.

His family spoke to us Thursday morning, they say he always wanted to be a soldier and died a hero.

"There is a hole that will never be filled", said William McMillan, Specialist McMillan's father.

"He was my best friend. My brother", said Brad McMillan.

The family says William wanted to be in the army at an early age, so it was no surprise when this young man became an Army medic.

"He wanted to save lives", said Elizabeth McMillan, William's wife.

Elizabeth and William married last January, and Wednesday would have been their year 1/2 anniversary. She said she did talk to her husband on Monday at a time he always called, and he was happy.

"He was my hero long before any of this happened. The greatest man I will ever know", said Elizabeth.

"I'm extremely proud. We honor his service. He knew what he was doing", said William McMillan.

"There are no words in the English language that could ever capture the beauty that was him, and it's going to be hard to go on without him", said Elizabeth McMillan.

Elizabeth tells us that many of the times she and her husband talked on the phone, they talked about future plans.

They hoped to one day become physicians assistants together, and were planning a trip to the lake for when William returned in September.

This was McMillan's first tour in Iraq and he had even been given the Bronze Star Medal with distinction. McMillan will be buried at Camp Nelson Cemetery with full military honors.