The Department of Defense said Lance Cpl. Trevor A. Roberts, 21, was killed while conducting combat opera tions at al-Anbar province in far western Iraq.

He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division at Oklahoma City.

A family spokesman, Rob Olmstead, the missions pastor at Eagle Heights Baptist Church, described Roberts as a very spiritually passionate young man who loved working with children.

"I was his youth pastor during junior high and high school, and he was a highly committed young man with a passionate relationship with Jesus," Olmstead said.

"We went on several missionary trips together," he said. "We went to Thailand and worked with the people there, and Trevor loved working with inner-city children in many cities across this country."

Olmstead said Roberts had planned to enter missionary work after he left the Marines.

He said Roberts had a fascination with the military since he was young and felt committed to doing something in service of the country.

That's why Roberts joined the Marine Reserves while a senior in high school, and then began basic training three months after graduation, he said.

Roberts was a 2004 graduate of Westmoore High School in the Moore district.

Olmstead said Roberts was sent to Iraq last year and

Even in the turmoil of Iraq, Roberts saw time to help children.

"There was a picture of him lovingly holding a little Iraqi girl. He loved people and he loved to share," Olmstead said.

The minister said Roberts often described Iraq as an interesting place where U.S. troops were welcomed and appreciated by the populace.

"He was especially close to the Iraqi police, who he was helping to train," Olmstead said. "Oftentimes he would share his meals with them.

"Trevor was a thinker. He just didn't see and react. He thought things out. His mission in Iraq was a spiritual journey for him," he said.

"He was passionate, a man of high conviction, who didn't smoke, drink or curse.

"His Marine recruiter called him a clean-cut American man," Olmstead said.

"Trevor had a lot in front of him. He felt excited about the future and what lay ahead in the future for him. And he was proud to serve his country," he said.

Others who knew Roberts had nothing but praise for him.

Westmoore High School Principal Mark Hunt described Roberts as "a great kid."

His death "really brings it so close to home."

Hunt said Roberts was a really talented student who maintained a 3.5 grade point average and was involved in advanced placement math and science classes.

"He was a bright young man. He took his studies seriously.

"He was just a really good kid who took care of business in the classroom," he said.

Roberts is survived by his parents, Chuck and Twyla Roberts of Oklahoma City; and a brother, Nathan, 23, a student at East Central Oklahoma State University at Ada.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Branstetter-Merritt Funeral Home in Oklahoma City.

World staff writer Rod Walton contributed to this story.

Manny Gamallo 581-8386
manny.gamallo@tulsaworld.com