When the Marines lose a man who comes from a town the size of Coolidge, the pain can be seen on everyone's face.

"He was a fine young man, it's a very tragic loss," said Coolidge ISD Superintendent, Chris Hulen.

The flag is flying at half staff at Coolidge High School. James Casper was a 2001 graduate.

"Oh we are devastated, any time you lose a student or a teacher or anyone in a small community like this, we're just devastated," said Hulen.

"It was hard for me to accept that it was him and it's torn me up, " said John Quinton, one of Casper's childhood friends.

Casper was just 20 years old when he died. Ask those who knew him and they'll tell you he was taken too young. All they have now are the memories.

"He was a good person, a good friend, a great listener, there were times he would always find a way to make you happy, he brought so much life into this school, " said Quniton.

Casper's former teachers agree. Vergenese Eagens taught him from the time he was in the 7th grade and says he was a budding artist.

"He was a good student, he loved drawing. He would do his work and he was a fast tpyist and he would always get done before anyone else and then he would want to draw and I let him do that," said Eagens.

Casper's teachers and friends say he loved to make people laugh. And in time, they say those happy memories will help heal their broken hearts.

Funeral plans for James Casper are pending.