Marine Pfc. Ricky A. Morris Jr. was looking forward to coming home for a month in September.

But on Thursday, Morris, 20, was killed in Iraq. His family learned the news the same day, Ricky A. Morris Sr. said.

"He was my heart," said his mother, Dana Morris, her voice breaking with emotion. "He was a wonderful boy and will be missed by so many people."

The Defense Department released Morris' name Friday, saying the young man died in Al Qaim, Iraq.

Morris Sr. said he didn't know details of how his son died but was told it was during a hostile situation. The Marine had been in Iraq for about five weeks, his father said.

"He was just really proud of doing what he was doing and looking forward to coming home in September" for a month, Dana Morris said. "He was a great young man and never caused us a single problem.

"He loved his family and he was courteous and always had a very good sense of humor and attitude."

In high school in Georgetown, just north of Austin, he was twice named all-district as a right tackle for the football team. He enlisted in the Marines soon after his June 2003 graduation, his parents said. The family moved to Lubbock about the time he left for boot camp at Camp Pendleton, the Marine base north of San Diego.

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Twentynine Palms, Calif.

The elder Morris said his son thought highly of his fellow Marines.

"Everyone needs to remember the boys who are left over there," he said. "He was proud of being a Marine and serving his country."