A family in Shirley spent Friday mourning the loss of a soldier killed this week while serving in Iraq.

U.S. Army Pfc. Paolo Marko Pacificador, 24, died along with two others when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle Monday. Pacificador followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by serving in the military, an honor friends and family said he took great pleasure from.

"Whenever he was here, he would brag about how much fun he would have and want to go back," said friend Vanessa Acevedr.

Pacificador is survived by his parents and two siblings. The family is awaiting the return of Pacificador's body before finalizing funeral arrangements.