CHEROKEE (AP) - A Marine from Cherokee was killed in the crash of a helicopter in Iraq a day before his 23rd birthday, relatives said.

Cpl. Nathan Schubert had received orders to leave Iraq on Feb. 4, his brother, Matt Schubert said as he gathered with relatives in Sioux Falls, S.D.

"He was kind of a patriotic person and I think he felt it was his duty to serve the country," Schubert, of Spencer, told the Sioux City Journal Thursday night.

Nathan Schubert was a carefree man who "lived a day for what it was worth," his older brother said as he gathered with relatives at his mother's home in Sioux Falls.

Cherokee Mayor Dennis Henrich said flags in Cherokee in northwestern Iowa were lowered to half staff. The mayor said Schubert's death is the first military casualty for the city of 5,300 since the Vietnam War.

Nathan Schubert was among 31 military personnel killed during a sandstorm in the early morning hours Wednesday in western Iraq. The CH-53E Super Stallion was carrying personnel from the 1st Marine Division on a security mission in support of Sunday's election.

The crash, which is still under investigation, was the single deadliest event for the American military in Iraq since the United States invaded in March 2003.

Nathan Schubert was struck by the devastation of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks while enrolled in college, his brother said. The next month, he joined the Marines.

Schubert was stationed with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, based at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Matt Schubert talked with his younger brother last Friday. Nathan said in that conversation he had received his orders to leave Iraq on Feb. 4. He was excited to leave and come home, Matt Schubert said.

Nathan Schubert was a 2001 graduate of Washington High School in Cherokee. His brother said memorial services will be held at the school. A date has not been set.

In November Nathan Schubert had plans to return to Iowa. The two brothers were going to spend time working on an old Jeep Nathan had bought.

"He was just the kind of person that would be everybody's best friend," Matt Schubert said.