MIDWEST CITY -- Army Staff Sgt. Lance Chase was the kind of soldier who inspired Iraqi citizens to wave and smile at him on patrol, his mother said Wednesday.

"My son truly believed in the mission in Iraq and in helping the Iraqi people," Dana Chase said. "He always felt his heart warmed to know they appreciated what he was doing."

Chase, 32, was killed Monday after an improvised explosive device detonated near his M1A2 Abrams tank during patrol operations in Baghdad, the U.S. Department of Defense reported. Another soldier died from wounds sustained in the explosion.

This was Chase's second tour of duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom, family members said.

He returned to Iraq beginning in December.

"We're proud of him," said Chase's maternal grandmother, Lillian Haynie. "We'd liked to have kept him, but I guess God seen other things for him."

Chase was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 4th In fantry Division. He was based out of Fort Hood, Texas.

Also killed in the Monday bombing was 18-year-old Pfc. Peter D. Wagler, of Partridge, Kan., according to reports. He served in the same unit with Chase.

Chase's military duties were focused on the Abrams tank, Dana Chase said. He taught recruits how to maintain and move it.

"He did it all on that tank," his mother said.