Capt. Brent L. Morel, U.S.M.C (KIA)

Funeral today for Capt. Brent L. Morel, Nashville native killed in Iraq

Mike Morel remembers vividly the day his son came home from college with an announcement.

''He said he needed some more focus in his life and said he had joined the Marine Corps. We were like, what? He said, 'yeah, just the Reserves,' '' the father said.

''He found what he wanted to do.''

Last week, the Marine's family learned he died doing his job.

Capt. Brent L. Morel, 27, who went on active duty after four years as a Reservist, died in an exchange of gunfire April 7 with Iraqi insurgents near Fallujah, Iraq.

The fallen Marine was born in Nashville but was raised for most of his life in Bartlett, Tenn.

Capt. Morel's funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at Cherokee Baptist Church, 5340 Quince Road in Memphis.

The young officer was assigned to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion of the 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He had been in Iraq since early March.

''He called us in November or December and told us he knew he was going to Iraq. He was absolutely thrilled about it. He said it was like practicing for football. If you practice all the time and don't play a game, it's not any fun,'' the grieving father said.

''I'm awfully proud of him and what he did. He was a good kid,'' said the elder Morel, a nurse anesthetist who is a native of Donelson and graduated from Mt. Juliet High School. The father now lives in McKenzie, Tenn.

The father said he has heard the official version of how his son was killed but said he had been told the report was classified.

''Knowing what happened has lightened my load so much. I'm sure, eventually, I think the whole thing will come out, but I don't think I should talk about it.''

In addition to his father, Capt. Morel is survived by his wife, Amy; his mother, Molly; and a sister, Marcie.

He will be buried in West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in Memphis.