ROSS, Ohio -- The family of the local Marine murdered at Camp Lejuene, North Carolina said there's something we can all learn from their grief.
The sister of Corporal Joshua Hartzell tells 9 News she hopes their family's tragedy will remind people to tell loved-ones how much they are loved, "We all knew how much we loved each other, there's no regret."
Robbe gathered with family at her mother's home in Ross. Corporal Hartzell's father lives in South Lebanon.
The Marine flag flies high outside his mother's home. Hartzell bought the pole and flag himself and dug the hole for it when he joined the Marines after high school.
"Everything you think a Marine or a good person should be was Josh," said Robbe. "He was honorable, proud, he was trustworthy. He was loyal. He was funny. He had a smile that would light a room up," she said.
"It's just tragic and we can't do anything to bring him back," she said.
Military officials are saying very little about the murder.
Hartzell's body was found Friday in a wooded area of Camp LeJeune, North Carolina.
Private Jonathan Law is in custody in connection with the murder. He has not yet been charged.
Family members say Hartzell talked to his mother just hours before he was murdered. He was fine. They have many questions about what happened but prefer to focus on their good memories.
"He had so much honor and he just represented such a good person and every man should want to be like him," said Hartzell's sister Rebecca Lumpkin.
Corporal Hartzell graduated from Ross High School in 2006. According to family and friends, he always had a smile on his face. He wrestled at Ross High School. He liked to go fishing. He didn't say bad words and they say he would never break rules. He inspired his brother, Private First Class Matthew Hartzell, to join the army.
"Every time I'd see him he inspired me and motivated me to do the best I can," he said.
"This week's been horrible for families of people in the military," said Robbe, referring to her brother's murder and the shootings at Ft. Hood.
"But we can't let the actions of a couple people make us loose faith in our county and our military," she said. "We have to stand strong for the people who are fighting. There are so many good men and women out there. My brother was one of the many," said Robbe.
Funeral details have not been worked out yet, athough the family does plan to hold the funeral locally.
9 News will keep you posted on any new information that's released on the investigation.
