Family and friends are mourning the loss of a local soldier, and folks say he's the first Doddridge County Private to pass away.

Jason Marchand was on an infantry mission in Iraq that turned deadly.

Authorities told family members that the 26 year old was sent to search houses, and a bomb went off while he was inside.

On August 10th, the Private First Class was called to duty for missions in Iraq, when the unfortunate happen.

His family got a call on Tuesday last week, saying he had been killed.

In the next two days Marchand will return with a military escort for a proper burial.

He left behind a wife, a mom, two brothers, and his 6 year old daughter Savannah.

Before going to Iraq, he was stationed in Germany for two years, and graduated from Doddridge County High School in 2000.