In Memoriam

Growing up, Eric McIntosh was a bit of a troublemaker.

"I called him my juvenile delinquent," his mother, Elizabeth McIntosh, said with a laugh.

McIntosh's reputation as a rascal -- albeit a good-natured one --always struck her as particularly funny because her two older children were such perfect angels.

Scott Schoenly, McIntosh's brother-in-law, can attest to that. McIntosh lived with Schoenly and his wife during his junior and senior years at Penn-Trafford High School.

"He skipped school all the time. I'm sure the local police in Trafford knew him pretty well."

Schoenly said McIntosh's life was heading in the wrong direction, but things changed after he graduated and enlisted in the Marines in 1996.

"When Eric joined the Marines, he really grew up," Schoenly says. "It changed his life. He was meant to be a Marine."

McIntosh, 29, was buried yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery.

In March, McIntosh -- a member of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force -- was sent to Iraq for his second tour of duty. He was killed April 2 in the al Anbar province after the Humvee he was traveling in drove over a roadside bomb.

Although McIntosh didn't come to Penn-Trafford until his late teens, his mother said he had many friends in the area. Since his death, she has received countless phone calls.

"He was so loving and honest and witty, too. He could always make you laugh no matter what."

McIntosh grew up in Indianapolis. After getting into trouble one too many times, he was sent to live with Schoenly and his wife, Lisa, in Trafford. Schoenly, who had known McIntosh since he was a boy, said he didn't show many signs improvement at his new home -- at least not right away.

"He wasn't a model student, put it that way," Schoenly said. "But even when he was getting in trouble, he was still a good kid."

Schoenly and McIntosh's older brother -- both former military men -- encouraged him to join the military after high school. When he did, his brother-in-law was sure the youngster wouldn't make it through basic training.

Instead, McIntosh took to the Marines like a fish to water.

"I though the Marines would chew him up and spit him out," said Schoenly, who now lives in Florida. "He proved me wrong, though. It was just one success after the other for Eric."

McIntosh quickly moved through the ranks. Before his death, he was a staff sergeant in charge of training snipers.

"It's one of the best positions you can get," Schoenly said.

After leaving the area upon graduation, McIntosh settled in North Carolina. Three years ago, he married his wife, Cynthia.

Elizabeth McIntosh said her son was thinking of buying a house. And with 10 years of service under his belt, he was hopeful he could retire in 10 more.

"He loved the military," Elizabeth McIntosh said. "He wanted to make a career out of it."

McIntosh also loved to skateboard and fish. After moving to North Carolina, he took up surfing.

"He was in great physical condition," his mother said. "He was just like a rock when you hugged him. He was 5'11-1/2" and that was coming from short, short parents. I always told him it was the vitamins I fed him."

Schoenly was making plans to take his brother-in-law and the rest of the family to the Florida Keys when they learned of his death.

"It's tough. It's a big loss," Schoenly said. "We were looking forward to Eric coming home and going on vacation."

Elizabeth McIntosh said her son was willing to die for his country.

"He was very patriotic, but you wouldn't' know it," she said. "He believed in what he was doing."