A Mississippi Marine was shot and killed over the weekend while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan, according to a news release from the Marine Corps.

Corporal Justin Cooper was a decorated marine who will be greatly missed, not only by his family, but by the town he called home.

Justin's father, Alan Cooper, bought a t-shirt with the words, "My son. One of the few, the proud, a Marine" on it, when he saw his son graduate from boot camp three and a half years ago. He learned Monday his son was killed in action serving his country.

"He knew the risks and he took them, but we never expected it to happen," said Cooper. "He was good at what he did."

Alan said it was his son's decision to go back to Iraq a second time and then to Afghanistan. Corporal Cooper did his job well, receiving seven different decorations for his actions. But he never let on to his family, never wanting them to worry.

"I said, 'Son, I know you did something to rank that from your commanders'. He said, 'I just did my job, Daddy. That's all I did'," said the elder Cooper.

Flags were lowered to half staff all over Eupora this week, including the high school where Cooper graduated. His principal, James Mason, remembers Cooper having the characteristics even then to be a Marine.

"He had that demeanor about him," said Mason. "And he had that leadership capability about him."

Cooper's father calls his son, simply, a hero.

"He was naturally my hero when he hit his first little league grand slam," said Cooper. "He was my hero when he played senior football and went to the state championship. He sacked the quarterback 19 times in the state championship game, but he has become the world's hero Sunday. And he did it willingly."

And so, by all accounts, Justin Cooper was not just a leader in his hometown, at his high school, but a leader on the battle field as well. And now his name will he added to a memorial there, remembering those who paid the ultimate price.

The Coopers are still awaiting details of when CPL Cooper's remains will be returned to Mississippi for burial.