CARROLLTON, Texas -- A Carrollton soldier killed in Iraq will receive a posthumous promotion to corporal.

A sniper killed Spc. Nathaniel Aguirre, 21, on Saturday.

Aguirre was a medic with the 1-22nd ID.

His family said the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks motivated him on his mission to serve his country.

“We just know he was willing to give his life we were very proud and support what he was doing. He knew the risk,” mother Key Mary Aguirre said.

Aguirre had spent nearly a year in Iraq.