The reality of the fighting in Iraq hit close to home for people in Spicewood.

On Friday 20-year-old Cpl. Matthew Matula, of Spicewood, a young man not even old enough to buy a beer, died Friday from hostile fire in Iraq.

"Matt's dad came in and advised us Saturday morning that he had passed," Matula’s former employer Dewey Hollingsworth said.

Those who knew Matula said it's a wake up call for their sleepy town.

"When you think about, you can't help but -- a little chilling effect goes over you when you think of somebody you know real well, you know the parents real well, they're good people -- they're just trying to help our country," Hollingsworth said.

Hollingsworth owns a convenience store in Spicewood. He said Matula worked for him a few years ago.

"No doubt, it drives home to you that it can happen anywhere, anytime," Hollingsworth said.

A few lots down, Christina Potter is also getting wind of the news. She said Matthew's mother has been a client here for years.

"I think that we tend not to know the soldiers [who] have been killed. Seems like they're not our neighbors., but yeah, I guess it is quite an eye-opener that people are dying all over, even close to home," Potter said. "I know that her son is a couple of years younger than my son, so we've shared stories about our kids and what they want to do and be when they grow up."

Matula's story didn't end happily: A sobering reality for any mother.

"I think it would be devastating to get a phone call saying that your child has been killed in war," Potter said.

Matula is one of three Texas soldiers killed since Thursday. He was assigned to Camp Pendleton in California. His widow is expecting a baby sometime this summer.