STOCKTON, Ill. -- A sign standing east of the Stockton High School athletic fields seemed to sum up the village's sentiments.

"Gone too soon. Pvt. 1st Class Devin Michel, Hometown Hero."

U. S. Army Pfc. Devin J. Michel, nicknamed "Fuzzy" in third grade, died on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Afghanistan's Zhari province of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was 19, and married a little more than a year.

On Friday afternoon, Devin's parents, Terry and Rebecca Michel, and his widow, Anika, discussed their loss during a news conference at their home.

Rebecca described her son as a "normal, typical, fun-loving kid," with many friends. He lived life to the fullest.

"At times, he was a little difficult," Terry said. "He was free-spirited, and if he had a goal, he would aim for it."

Rebecca recalled Devin's interest in joining the Army.

"I told him, 'If you don't have any plans, Honey, you're not going to sit on the couch and eat Cheetos

Reminiscing Terry and Rebecca Michel seek anecdotal stories and mementoes about Devin from their friends for a family scrapbook. Anything is appreciated, Terry said.

all the time; think about the military,' " she said.

Devin enlisted in the Army after graduation from Stockton High School in 2008. He did basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., before being assigned to the 4th Infantry Division based in Fort Carson, Colo.

Anika, 22, was living in Fort Carson when she learned of her husband's death. Two girlfriends drove her back to her hometown.

"Their husbands are still over there," she said. "They are definitely good guys who can put smiles on your face. Devin is greatly missed, and his friends are hurting -- not only here, but there."

Anika and Devin married on Oct. 3, 2008 (she proposed to him, he picked out the rings). He was deployed to Afghanistan on May 30, and that was the last time she -- and Terry and Rebecca -- saw him.

"I still feel like he's deployed," she said.

Rebecca's last words to her son were, "I love you. Please be safe."

Anika recalled that Devin never discussed what happened in Afghanistan, and the couples' last conversation was routine. Devin wanted to be updated on what was happening at home, Anika wanted her husband to reclassify his MOS (military occupational skill) from infantry.

"He didn't want a desk job," she said. "He wanted to be busy shooting guns and blowing up things. That's what he liked to do. He talked about joining special operations, but he lost that argument."

Michel's death marked the second Stockton soldier to fall in battle over the past two years. U.S. Army Sgt. Andrew W. Lancaster, 23, died of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device in August 2007 in Arab Jabour, Iraq.

Anika described the mood of the village of about 2,000, as one of "anger that two young people didn't make it. Confused, hurt, shocked.

"But you can't change the choices they made," she said.

Mike Bowman, a family friend from Forreston, remembered Lancaster.

"This community came out for Andy," he said. "And there's been unbelievable support for the Michel family. This was a sad day for northwest Illinois. We want to make sure Devin is honored as a hero."

Rebecca sounded grateful for the village's support in the family's time of need.

Codi Herring was visiting her sister, who lives across the street from the Michels. Anika was in Herring's high school class.

"It's sad," Herring said. "It was utter disbelief when the community learned. It must be terrible for the family."

Just down the street from the Michels live Marvin and Charlotte Blackbourn. They bought yellow ribbons for the neighbors and placed luminaries along the neighboring streets to brighten the neighborhood at night in a sign of solidarity.

"How can you help not be devastated? He was so young and newly married," Marvin said.

Charlotte recalled her tears shed for the family.

"My heart just bled for him," she said. "I can't imagine losing a son at that young age."

The flags, the yellow ribbons and luminaries seemed to signify a solidarity that blossomed throughout the city.

"We are leaning on our neighbors," Terry said. "We have to keep working, focusing on getting back to a normal life."