In keeping with his fun-loving spirit, U.S. Army Pvt. Oscar Sauceda Jr. called his mother at 4 in the morning on Mother's Day knowing it would be the perfect gift.

"He thought it was funny to ask me, 'What are you doing?' " Sandra Hernandez told the Del Rio News-Herald. "He was always like that."

It was the last time Hernandez would speak to her 21-year-old son. Sauceda died May 22, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, when his unit came under small arms fire from enemy insurgents. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley.

"He was full of love, full of joy, full of adventure," Sandra told the Del Rio News-Herald. "He was a joker. He always had to have the last word. He would always come to me with anything that troubled him and he would always call to talk."

Sauceda graduated from Del Rio (Calif.) High School in 2004, and joined the Army 18 months later. He was described as a "natural athlete" who excelled as a shot putter and discus thrower in track and field, and on the football field as a fullback for the Del Rio Rams. His No. 4 jersey was retired upon graduation. That same jersey was presented to his mother upon news of his death.

Regan Sheedy, a longtime friend, remembers a time during their junior year when his car broke down and he called Sauceda to pick him up. Doing so would make Sauceda late for football practice, which meant a penalty. But he went to pick up his buddy and ended up sitting out the following game as punishment.

"He always put everyone in front of himself," Sheedy told the Express-News Border Bureau. "He always loved to make people happy."

Hernandez said Sauceda was proud to be in the Army and had planned to re-enlist when his first tour of duty was complete.

"He loved that way of life," Hernandez said. "Of course, I was afraid for him, but I supported him and the choices he made."

Sauceda joined the Army on Feb. 15, 2006, and was assigned to the Infantry Training Brigade at Fort Benning, Ga., where he trained as an infantryman.

He was assigned to the newly-activated 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment at Fort Riley. During his time he served as an assistant gunner in D Company. He participated in numerous events to include the Dragon Flight II, Brigade Consolidated Gunnery, Company Combined Arms Live Fire exercises, and a rotation to the National Training Center in California. He deployed with his unit in early February of 2007.

Awards dnd decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Expert Rifleman's Badge and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.

He is also survived by his step-father, Ricky Hernandez.