A memorial service was held Sunday in California for Pfc. George J. Howell, a 10th Mountain Division soldier from Fort Drum who was killed Dec. 21 in Iraq.

Family, friends and local elected officials filled the American Legion post in Prunedale, Calif., to pay homage to Pfc. Howell, who was from nearby Salinas, the Monterey County Herald newspaper reported.

Pfc. Howell, with the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Jan. 25 on what would have been his 25th birthday. He was killed north of Baghdad by an improvised explosive device.

Howell is survived by relatives, including his wife, Kristin, who is pregnant with their third child, the paper reported.

"Georgie learned about his third baby while he was still in Iraq, so I didn't get to see his excitement and joy," Mrs. Howell said at the afternoon service, the newspaper reported.

She also read from letters sent by Pfc. Howell's fellow soldiers:

"He always did the right thing," one said.

"He volunteered for everything," another said.

"The entire platoon trusted him completely," a third said

The service concluded with the playing of "Taps," a salute from veterans and a rifle salute, the newspaper reported.