The parents of a fallen N.C. National Guardsman spent Saturday at their home in Apex recalling stories about their son who was killed in Iraq on Friday.

Spc. Lance O. Eakes, 25, of Apex, was killed Friday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while he was on a combat patrol in Iraq.

Eakes is survived by his mother and father, Tammy and John Eakes. Lance was a 2001 graduate of Apex High School. Serving his country was his son’s No. 1 reason for joining the National Guard, his father said.

“He couldn’t believe what happened on 9-11,” John Eakes said. Lance wanted to serve his country, and “he felt like the training would be good for his career aspirations.”

Lance aspired to be a law enforcement officer. “That’s why he decided to be an MP,” his father said. “He wanted to be a policeman or a highway patrolman.”

Both his parents remembered his passion for serving others.

Lance was serving for a second time in Iraq after volunteering to deploy with the 105th Military Police Battalion in 2004-2005. “He wouldn’t trade being there (his current assignment) for anything in the world,” John Eakes said.

Lance’s mother recalls how he loved being out with the people and interacting with the Iraqi children. “Lance would pay the Iraqi children to go to the market to get bread for him. They’d come back with multiple loafs of bread and would tell Lance, thank you, my family can eat for a week with this money,” Tammy Eakes said.

Lance loved his country, but the drive that kept him going was kick boxing. A competitive kick boxer, Lance had multiple awards and belts for his abilities. Lance was a Royal Ranger and an active member of the fellowship of Christian Frontiersmen at his church but found a way to get into mischief all his own. The family talked and joked about Lance pulling a fire alarm at school when he was in first grade. His parents couldn’t tell the story without laughing while recalling how terrified of being arrested Lance became. “For weeks, we’d say, hey, the police are coming for you.” his father said. “That kept him acting in line for a really long time.”

Lance’s family is left with an incredible void but is enormously proud of their son.

John Eakes rubbed his face and explained that he joked with Lance that he wasn’t going to shave and get a hair cut until Lance returned. “I don’t know if I’m going to shave it at the funeral, I haven’t made up my mind what to do yet,” he said.