Jeffrey J Kaylor

Jeffrey Kaylor grew up in Clifton, Va. played football in high school and married his college sweetheart.

“He wanted to be a hero,” said his older sister, Patricia Kaylor, 25. “He is a hero. But it’s hard for us. If only he could have held out for two more days, this might have all been over.”

Kaylor, 24, was on reconnaissance when he was killed by a grenade April 7.

He graduated in 2001 from Virginia Tech’s Cadet Corps, where he met his wife, Jenna Cosby. They were married in July. She also is in the Army, deployed to Kuwait. Now, she is accompanying her husband’s body home.

“He loved cars. He loved high school. He had a wide circle of friends,” his sister said. “He was the kind of person who always wanted to bring up everyone else’s...