Kristofer Walker killed by roadside bomb

(CBS) NAPERVILLE, Ill. For the second time this week, a local family is getting ready to bury a soldier.

CBS 2 West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli reports on the latest casualty from Iraq.

In Naperville there's an apartment wreathed in patriotic bunting, but the top layer has been taken down because the family inside is in mourning.

"He was a great kid," said George Obourn Sr., talking about his son.

Twenty-year-old George Obourn Jr. was killed in combat outside of Baghdad late Tuesday night. His family was notified by an Army sergeant, who came to the home yesterday.

Obourn says his namesake died doing what he loved.

"Supporting a cause he believed in. Unfortunately, he had to give his life for it," he said.

The 20-year-old's mother wasn't so sure she believed in the cause when her youngest boy volunteered to serve.

"I was against it at first. I was afraid," Debbie Obourn said.

Now that her worst fears have been realized, she finds some measure of comfort knowing that her son died doing his duty.

"He felt it was his job and he wasn't going to let anyone else fight his battles for him," Debbie Obourn said.

George's best friend Chris Walker also felt the same way. The two enlisted together straight out of high school in Peoria. They served together in Iraq and nearly died together.

Chris was killed by a roadside bomb the day before George lost his life.

"We were doubly devastated because we knew they went over together and for this to happen this way it was kind of beyond belief for me," George Obourn said.

One of the last things George requested from his mom was bandanas for he and Chris and the other troops struggling in the desert dust.

Debbie Obourn bought them but had yet to put them in the mail.

"I didn't get them out in time," she said.

From CBS 2

Note: no press story was available specifically concerning Christopher Walker. This post will be updated when appropriate.

Update 10/08/06: This post has been updated to correct the spelling of Kristopher Walker's name. There still has been no specific story regarding his death.