Raymond N. Spencer Jr. dies 'of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by insurgents using an IED and small arms fire'

Army Pfc. Raymond Spencer Jr., 23, of Sacramento County was a study in contrasts. He liked the movies "Top Gun" and "Finding Nemo," the History Channel and "South Park," country music and rock.

His eclectic interests, he said on his MySpace profile, were proof that he was a "down to earth guy who enjoys life and takes things as they come."

Today, Spencer's modest description of himself is joined by sad remembrances left by the many people of varied backgrounds he touched during his short life.

Spencer was killed Thursday in Baghdad when insurgents attacked his unit with homemade bombs and small arms, according to the U.S. Army.

"He was always happy, always smiling," his aunt, Victoria Gargano, 49, of New York City, said today. "He kept everybody's spirits up. I don't think there was anybody who didn't like him."

Spencer was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Bliss, Texas and proud of it, relatives said.

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night, only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf," Spencer, quoting George Orwell, wrote in the profile he posted at MySpace, the popular online social networking site.

Spencer was a firefighter in Placer Hills before joining the Army. He coached youth ice hockey and played the game himself throughout the U.S. and Canada, at one point harboring ambitions to play professionally.

He cherished his family, said his aunt, and wrote on MySpace, "My family has always been there for me and support everything I do. I plan to be the same way when I start my own family one day."

From the San Francisco Chronicle