PITTSBURGH -- The family of a West Virginia-based Marine killed in Iraq on Sunday say he was inspired by others in the military who died before him.

The military said Staff Sgt. Joseph Goodrich, 32, of Pittsburgh and Lance Cpl. Ryan Kovacicek, 22, of Washington, Pa., were killed by "indirect fire" -- presumably mortar shells. They died in the insurgent stronghold of Hit on the Euphrates River in western Iraq.

Goodrich's wife, Amy, said her husband tried to explain why he was a Marine in the last letter she received from him.

He spoke about his childhood visits to the graves of veterans and says he swore to himself that he "would not let them down."

Kovacicek's brother-in-law, Ron Salvitti, said he enlisted to defend his country. Kovacicek arrived in Iraq in March and was expected to return in October.

Salvitti said Kovacicek had a great sense of humor and was well liked. He was a junior studying criminology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Both men were assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, based in Moundsville, West Virginia.

According to a Department of Defense Web site, both Marines died July 10 from enemy fire while conducting combat operations in Hit, Iraq.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom their unit was attached to Regimental Combat Team-2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

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