Eastern Kentucky has lost a Marine to the insurgents in Iraq.

WYMT's Danielle Morgan spoke with the soldier's wife earlier Thursday, but she wasn't able to talk on camera. She says she just wants everyone to know who Jon Thornsberry is and the sacrifice he, like so many other soldiers, are still making in Iraq.

It's evident when you see Hailey Thornsberry look at pictures of her dad. Family and friends are proud of Lance Corporal Jonathan Thornsberry who had only been in Iraq for 26 days. Wednesday morning, military officials say Thornsberry and another Marine from Florida died after their Humvee hit a roadside bomb during a combat operation. Thursday, family and friends struggle to comprehend, Thornsberry will be returning home in a casket.

If you look closely to pictures of Jon Thornsberry, you can see the smear of kisses left behind by his daughter Hailey who is now the legacy of a man who was determined to serve his country, even though he feared the worst when he deployed.

Thornsberry's father-in-law says Jon was called up after a unit in Michigan returned from Iraq. He says Jon was scared of the violence, but ready to serve.

Family members say it will be at least six days before his body is returned to the U.S. so funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

We will have more on this story tonight on Mountain News NightWatch.