Pvt. Noah L. Boye, U.S.M.C (KIA)

A 21-year-old Marine killed in Iraq Tuesday has family living in the Bitterroot Valley, according to a local minister who is helping them deal with the loss.

A prayer request went out for the family, said Pastor John Bain of the First Christian Church in Hamilton.

Bain said the family is dealing with their loss privately, and did not as yet wish to be identified or discuss details related to the incident.

Pvt. Noah L. Boye, of Grand Island, Neb., died April 13 due to hostile fire in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. Boye was a mortarman assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Boye joined the Marine Corps July 1, 2001. His personal awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment ribbon.

He was deployed last year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This was his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to the Department of Defense press release.