ZANESVILLE -- Kind, loving, patriotic and happy-go-lucky are the descriptions friends and family use when describing Cpl. Todd Godwin.

Loyal, proud and determined ... the list goes on as those who knew him reflected upon the time they spent with the 21-year-old Marine who died tragically in Iraq on Tuesday.

Kathy Godwin remembered her son as a very loving man, and Bill Godwin said for as long as he could remember, his son wanted to be a Marine, said 1st Sgt. James Halbig.

A sniper with the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., Godwin was killed when shrapnel from a homemade bomb hit him in the neck as he was returning from a night mission in the Al Anbar Province.

He was sitting in the back of a Humvee with five fellow Marines when he was struck. The bomb exploded about 25 meters in front of the vehicle. Halbig said it is unusual for shrapnel from such a device to fly that far. The other five Marines in the back and the driver were not injured.

Godwin returned to Iraq about a month ago. He served a previous tour there last year near the beginning of the war.

Godwin was a member of the Newark Bible Church and a 2001 graduate of Zanesville Christian School. He had two black belts in martial arts, played soccer and basketball and played trumpet in the high school band.

He planned marrying fiancee Andrea Mendenhall and going to college next year after his time in the Marines ended.

Friends remembered Godwin as a loving, caring individual who constantly looked out for others.

"I think the thing that I remember the most about him was his ability to laugh in almost any situation," said Austin Thompson, friend and fellow Zanesville Christian School graduate. "He always had a great sense of humor and he was also very loyal to his friends. He always looked out for them and loved to be with them."

Lance Cpl. Dan Wills, a high school friend, agreed.

"If somebody needed something, he would help them out if he could," Wills said. "He was friends with just about everybody at our school."

Nancy Wills, Dan's mother, also remembered Godwin as a fun-loving youth.

"He was so happy-go-lucky," she said. "He was just a good kid -- a good-hearted kid and a good friend."

"All he would want is for us to remember the good times we had with him and be proud -- as he was to serve his country -- that we had a friend who sacrificed everything for our freedom," Thompson said. "I am happy and proud to say that Todd Godwin was my friend."

Godwin grew up with Josh Carpenter and Dan Wills, who graduated with him in 2001 from Zanesville Christian School. Wills enlisted in the Marine Corps about the same time as Godwin did, and Carpenter decided to join the corps in 2003.

Carpenter, now a lance corporal stationed in Camp Lejeune, N.C., is training for his next tour of duty.

Carpenter's mother, Myrle, remembered the last time she saw Godwin, over the Memorial Day weekend. Her son had returned from serving in Afghanistan, and Myrle asked Godwin if he could give Carpenter a ride home from Camp Lejeune.

"He said, 'You know, my car will be packed and I'm bringing a buddy, but there will still be room for Josh,'" Myrle said, fighting tears. "When they came in, the car was jam-packed, and I could see them kids in the car, grinning."

Myrle had decorated her front porch in patriotic colors for their return. Godwin stepped out of the car with Carpenter and his other friend, gave her a big hug and complimented her on the decorations.

"He was always a fun, fun person, and an encourager," she said.

Godwin wrote Carpenter a letter while he was going through his boot camp training. Godwin offered support and sympathized.

"I'm sure you can't wait to graduate and get some of the comforts of life back," he wrote. "Just remember you have to pay your dues, just like every Marine. I'm sure you'll do fine -- I have confidence you'll succeed."

Myrle said her son is having a difficult time dealing with Godwin's passing, but Carpenter is determined to stay focused on his training to get through the worst times.

Though Godwin's loss is a hard one to bear for those that knew them, they seek comfort in knowing he is with his God.

"I know that the Lord is in control and that is what I am trusting in -- and that is what Todd knew as well," Thompson said. "He is in a much better place now and I know that he would not want us to be sad for him."