Luke Runyan was an adventurist and liked to push himself, whether it was skiing, riding his motorcycle or doing his best in the Army.

"You couldn't hold Luke back," said his brother, Christopher, 25. "Luke was the life of the party, but he had his serious side, too.

Army Spc. Luke Runyan, 21, was killed in an ambush in Iraq on Sunday.

"He enlisted in the Army right out of high school, knowing we were involved in the war in Iraq, and he extended his enlistment because he didn't want to leave his buddies, his Army family, who were still facing danger there."

He will be buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. A local memorial service is being planned. Details are incomplete.

Runyan was the son of Marc Runyan of West Manchester Twp., York County, and Lynette Baker of Spring Grove. He was a 2004 graduate of Spring Grove Area High School.

He and his wife, Courtney, met when he was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington. They lived in the Seattle area with their daughter, Brynn, 1.

Runyan posthumously was promoted to corporal and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with valor, which is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves through heroic achievement or service.

Christopher Runyan said his brother knew the danger of remaining in Iraq. He had seen members of his unit die, including a close friend who was killed by a sniper in April.

"He wanted to be there with his other 'family,' his buddies," he said.

Marc Runyan said his son had no fear of combat because of his military training.

"He once told me you go out on a mission, and if you get hit, you get hit. If you don't, you don't. It's as simple as that," his father said.

"He did feel very strongly they were doing an excellent job freeing the Iraqi people from al-Qaida," Marc Runyan added.

Michelle Mummert, Luke Runyan's former guidance counselor at Spring Grove, said he had a "million-dollar smile."

"He just brightened up a room," Mummert said. "Luke was very personable, very fun-loving, a good student and a good kid all around.

"It's a sad day here. It's like there is a hole in your heart."

Runyan always was interested in serving in the military, Mummert said.

"He wanted to serve his country, and he wanted to help people. He joined the military to do that," she said.

Christopher Runyan said he and his father flew to Seattle to visit Luke and his family for Christmas. That was the last time they saw him.

On that visit, he told them about saving the life of an Iraqi boy who had been hit by a stray bullet. Luke insisted on pulling the boy out of the line of fire and bandaging him, his brother said.

Christopher Runyan also is in the military as a member of Alpha Company, 212th Infantry of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

"We're slated to go to Iraq in October," he said. "I'm not permitted to go now, due to Luke's death."

Their father was reluctant to see them join the military during a war, he said, but there was no holding back Luke, who wanted to make the military a career.

"Luke was very outgoing and very friendly, but he was also a hard-willed individual," Christopher Runyan said. "When he wanted to do something, he did it.

"You couldn't hold Luke down."