Steven R. Elrod dies 'of injuries suffered from a non-combat related vehicle rollover'

Spc. Steven Elrod said his parents were his heroes.

The Massey Hill Classical School graduate said on his MySpace page that he admired his father’s service in the Army and his mother’s support.

Elrod followed his father’s lead and joined the Army in February 2006.

He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division as a cavalry scout in July 2006.

“Elrod was always ready to help people when they needed it,” Spc. John Pribnow, a fellow soldier, said in a statement. “Everyone is going to miss him very much. He was a really great guy.”

Elrod was an avid music and sports fan, especially basketball.

“Anything that involves music, sports or comedy suits me just fine,” he wrote on his MySpace page. “I’m a pretty laid-back guy who loves to hang out and spend time with family and friends.”

Scott Thornall, Elrod’s best friend, said Elrod idolized basketball players Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

The men met as freshmen in gym class at Massey Hill Classical and used to play basketball together.

Elrod was the godfather to Thornall’s daughter.

“He would’ve been a great dad if he had the opportunity,” Thornall said.

Elrod’s sister, Kristen, said her brother always wanted to be a family man.

“It is not fair for you cause you always talked about being a father and a husband,” she wrote on his MySpace page. “And you would have made some girl happy. I love ya, big brother, and I’ll miss you from now till forever.”

Elrod also is survived by his mother, Karen Morin; his stepfather, Michael Morin; and his father, Denny Elrod.

From the Fayetteville Observer