"Staff Sergeant Rex Schad has left a mark on all of us and we are better and stronger for having known him," says 1st Lt. David Swanson, Schad's platoon leader.

"Rex is in heaven... with our Lord and Savior," says Peter Whipple, Schad's uncle.

They paid their respects by remember who he was. "That's Rex Schad. The barrel-chested freedom fighter, the meat-eater infantry man with the heart of thunder and the walk of a champion. The American soldier and the American patriot," says Lt. Swanson.

They also paid respects to who Schad planned to be. "It's hard to talk about all the things that Rex could have done in the Army without my breath catching in my throat," says Lt. Swanson, sharing that Schad had dreams of possibly joining the Special Forces, going to college and becoming an officer. But, first he was going to become a husband.

"We had plans and dreams that will never be lived-- to marry and have children," says Sabrina Cardona, Schad's fiance. Even though it wasn't the way she pictured it, she said her vows to Schad's casket. "I vow to fiercely love you in all your forms, now and forever. Rex, I promise to never forget that this is the once-in-a-lifetime love."

"I don't think he would want us to be sad, sober and too weepy today. I think he would want us to celebrate his life, and so that's what I ask you to do," says Whipple.

They celebrated the man who was filled with laughter, who loved running marathons, and who touched each and every one of their lives. "Rex, I love you, man. I'm so proud of you. You're a champion. I miss you, I will never forget you... none of us will," says Lt. Swanson.

Schad's family was presented with a Purple Heart and a bronze star. Schad would have been released from the military this year.