He was injured when an incendiary bomb went off under his truck in Iraq. It was his second deployment to that country. In 2003, he was part of the invasion of Iraq.

Engel would have been 22 years old July 22. "He was burned over 70 percent of his body. He had severe lung damage and kidney failure," said his father Bill. The family was notified of their son's injuries and was flown to Germany. Mark Engel's injuries were so serious that he was then flown to the burn unit at a hospital in San Antonio.

"He fought a valiant fight for two weeks," his father added. His sister, Dana, said the family is "not doing well. But we're a strong family. God gives us strength." She says the way people can help the most is to "just let us know if you knew Mark."

"People have just been trying to do whatever they can and we so much appreciate it," she said.

Mark Engel went to Cherry Hills Village Elementary School, West Middle School and Cherry Creek High School where he graduated in 2001. He played football, rugby, was a skier and snow boarder and very active in outdoor activities. He was a "free spirit" says his sister Dana. "He knew himself well enough to follow his own mind."

Engel joined the Marines his first year out of high school.

He is survived by his father Bill, his mother Sharon, and four brothers and sisters; Dana, Rachael, Eric and Brad.