Joshua (William J.) Rechenmacher dies of injuries from I.E.D.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The violence in Iraq recently hit home in Jacksonville, where a mother is making plans to bury her son who was killed in action.

Army Spc. Joshua Rechenmacher, 24, returned home from one tour of duty and volunteered to return for a second tour. He was patrolling the streets of Baghdad when a bomb hit his Humvee.

"He knew the risks were higher this time. He was more scared this time, but he still served with honor," said Rechenmacher's mother Joanne Gutcher. "Every picture that I have from over there he has a smile on his face."

The former Forest High School student joined the Army when he was 17 years old. His mother said he had wanted to serve his country since he was toddler.

"When he was about 2 or 3, he loved Top Gun. We went through three Top Gun tapes because he would constantly play it over and over. He would sit there and get his dad's motorcycle helmet and plunger and pretend he was flying the plane -- that's what he wanted to do," Gutcher said.

Rechenmacher served for seven years.

"I am so proud of him. He died doing what he wanted to do -- serve his country and protect his family," Gutcher said. "He loved being a solider. When he went to Forest, he was in ROTC and he loved it."

She is preparing to have her son's best friend and fellow soldier bring her son's body home, where she plans to have a funeral service for him.

"All a parent wants is for their child to grow up and be want they want to be and be happy," Gutcher said.

From JAX 4