Alan Staub's son heard from Pvt. Michael Dinterman a few days before he was killed in Afghanistan.

Dinterman e-mailed Jordan Staub, who is a college freshman, that he was going to be home at Christmas and that they should get together. Jordan Staub agreed.

Sunday afternoon, Jordan Staub called his father to tell him the bad news about his 18-year-old friend from Littlestown, Adams County.

The Army Infantryman had died Saturday while serving his country. Friends and family had been posting memorials to Dinterman's MySpace page.

"I wish they could still do it," a wistful Alan Staub said Monday evening of the boys' planned get-together at the holidays.

Dinterman died Saturday at Outpost Restrepo in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He was mortally wounded by enemy fire while on foot patrol, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Defense.
He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Dinterman's parents, both of whom live in Littlestown, said Monday that their son had enlisted in the Army in January because he wanted to do something with his life.

The death of his 3-month-old nephew, Noah Gladfelter, in December made it all that more important, his family said.

"He came home for that and just decided that life was too short and he wanted to do something with his," said Dinterman's mom, Lora Martin. "It changed him to say, 'What do I want in life?'"

His father, Rick Dinterman, said he last spoke to his son during Labor Day weekend. He was happy, his dad said.

His son had been talking about future goals. Michael Dinterman wanted to become a ranger and eventually join the SWAT team, his family said.

He had only been serving in Afghanistan about a month, and his deployment was expected to last between 12 and 15 months, the family said.

His parents said they kept in contact with their son by phone and occasionally the Internet, when it was available.

Michael Dinterman raved about the mountains of Afghanistan. He told his parents the landscape of the faraway nation captivated him, since it was so different from the hills of Adams County.

"He said it was beautiful over there," Rick Dinterman said. "He was happy being there."

Michael Dinterman attended Littlestown High School for his freshman and sophomore years and went on to graduate from Bowling Brook Preparatory School in Carroll County, Md., according to a statement released by Littlestown Supt. Donald Wills.

"We are saddened by the news of Michael's death, but we're heartened by his heroic service and sacrifice to his country," according to the statement.

His parents echoed those sentiments, saying they're proud of his choice to enlist.

"He died serving his country," his dad said. "He's not the only one."

The family said it is still waiting for more details on the circumstances surrounding Dinterman's death. The Army has been supportive and attentive, his mom said.

Some officials in Littlestown had not heard the news of Dinterman's death Monday afternoon.

"That's a shame," Mayor Donna Shadle said. "My heart goes out to the family."

Jim Eline Sr., vice president of borough council, said he believes Dinterman might be the first soldier from the town to die in a war since World War II.

The 64-year-old councilman has lived in the town all of his life, and he couldn't recall of any fallen soldiers from the Korean or Vietnam wars. He plans to mention Dinterman's death at a borough council meeting tonight.

"It's a shame that this had to happen," Eline said.

Alan Staub, a manager of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6954 in Littlestown, said he coached Dinterman in baseball from 1998 to 2000. He recalled Dinterman as being the first one to practice, eager to learn and competitive.

He played for the Littlestown Raiders, one of about a dozen teams in the Maryland travel league.

Alan Staub said he's overwhelmed by Dinterman's death.

His son and Dinterman played together. They're the same age.

One is here.

One is gone.