Courtesy Photo Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan Chrobot died from battle injuries suffered in Afghanistan doing what he believed in, his family said.

"Just knowing that has helped," as she arranges for her 24-year-old son's funeral, Johns said Monday.

Johns, who had not talked to her son since May, said Chrobot and his wife, Amber, spoke for almost 30 minutes Saturday, shortly before he went out on a mission.

After that call, "he was shot in the chest in combat," Johns said.

He died during surgery.

In the call to his wife, Chrobot "was being silly and joking," Johns said, as he expressed appreciation for packages from home.

"He was a happy-go-lucky fellow," his grandmother, Anita Poole, of Frederick , said. "He was a clown."

He also had a lifelong plan to be a Marine, Johns said.

"He's always had a soldier's heart," she said. "From a very early age, he worshipped his grandfather," Bunky Poole, a Marine who served in Vietnam.

"His grandfather was his hero," Anita Poole said. "He couldn't have been anything else but a Marine."

After graduating from New Life Christian School in 2003, Chrobot worked with his grandfather at Ryan Homes. Then, three years ago, he joined the Marines.

He joined "knowing he was going to go into battle," Anita Poole said.

As hard as it was to see her son join under those circumstances, Johns said she was glad he stood up for his beliefs. She has always encouraged her children to do what they believe is right for them to do.

"I was very proud of him."

In 2007, Chrobot married Amber Bird of Walkersville .

"He was deeply devoted to his wife, Amber," Poole said.

He also loved Frederick , she said, and he kept his grandparents' address as his on his driver's license.

Johns, who lives in Harrisonburg, Va., said the last time she saw her son was in May when she traveled to Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. Stationed there, Chrobot had been home between deployments about a year.

This second deployment was scheduled to end in December.

"I want people to know he gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country," Johns said.

Johns and her mother said family, friends, the community and prayers have provided comfort.

"We think he's a great hero," Poole said. "Jordan died doing what he believed in."

"He was proud to die for his country. That's what gives us solace."

Johns said Chrobot enjoyed being a "Rebel" Civil War re-enactor. His friends plan to honor him at his funeral in period costume, and he will be buried with his Civil War rifle.

Services have been tentatively set for Saturday.