Marine Corporal Adam Fales looked forward to the end of elections in Iraq this weekend.

To him, it was a step toward the day when the U.S. military would hand control of the Middle Eastern country back to its people — a day when the thousands of men and women in uniform could return home.

“To him, it (helping out with the elections) was the most important part of what he did over there,” his father Joseph said.

The last time Iraq held elections, he carried ballots to Tikrit as part of his duties in the military police.

He will not get to see the day when the U.S. handed full control back to a free Iraq.

The 21-year-old Fairview graduate died of a gunshot wound to the head in his barracks Friday night while he slept — an incident that is under investigation by the Marine Corps.

“It really seems like a dream,” his mother Glenda said of receiving the news late Saturday morning.

“When I saw the three marines coming to my door, I knew why they were here,” she said. “I told them ‘you’re hear to tell me my son’s dead’.”

They confirmed her worst fears, bringing her news that has not only devastated her family, but also a community that Adam Fales had embraced when his family moved to Cullman County in 1997 from Ocala, Fla.

“This really leaves a hole in the community,” said Marty Hardman, one of Fales coaches at Fairview High School.

Adam Fales was nearing the end of his four-year tour of duty in the Marine Corps. He was due to come home in February.

“He died doing what he loved to do,” Glenda Fales said. “He dreamed of going into the military ever since he was a little boy. He was always drawing pictures of battles and war. He also wanted to be a history teacher.”

Adam Fales planned to go into teaching when his enlistment was up next spring. He followed older brother Jacob into the Marine Corps. Jacob is also a corporal in the Marine Corps. He is in his second tour of duty and is stationed in Hawaii.

Adam Fales was stationed in Cherry Point, N.C. prior to starting a nine-month tour of duty in Iraq.

His parents said he was eager to go and hoped to be deployed sooner.

“He wanted to do his part,” Glenda Fales said.

Part of Adam Fales’ job was to provide security for convoys.

“He worked as much as 20 hours a day,” Glenda Fales said. “He would sometimes sleep in the humvee. The group he served with was very close.”

Family members described Adam Fales as laid back, a person who was somewhat of a homebody when he came home on leave.

“He would enjoy himself just being home,” Joseph Fales said.

He enjoyed family dinners and playing football with his brothers Jacob and James.

His father described him as the mediator in the family that also includes step-sister Crystal Dean.

“He was the calm one of the bunch,” Joseph Fales said.

Adam Fales was a star football player at Fairview under head coaches Mark Britton and Phillip Gay.

“He was a super kid, fun to be around,” Gay said. “I had him in class. He was pleasant to teach. I was proud for him when he joined the Marines.”

“He was just a hard-nosed, tough kid,” Britton said. “He played whatever role we asked of him on both sides of the ball. His family was enthusiastic, very supportive of our program. My heart goes out to them. He was an outstanding young man.”

Adam Fales rushed for more than 300 yards in a game against West Limestone his senior season in 2001. He was named to The Cullman Times All-Area Team that season after rushing for more than 1,000 yards.

“He loved Fairview, the community and all of the people here,” Glenda Fales said. “He also loved football. His favorite team was the Miami Hurricanes.”

Fales’ body is expected to be transported back to the states early this week. The arrangements for his funeral have not been set yet.

Fales is the second Cullman County soldier killed in Iraq, both in less than a week. Staff Sgt. Travis Nelson, 41, was killed Dec. 10, while serving with the 101st Airborne Division. His funeral services will be held at noon today at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home.