A local marine serving in Iraq has died. He was a US Marine from Marietta, Oklahoma. The family was notified early Sunday morning that their son was killed when his Hum-vee struck a landmine. KTEN was granted the only interview with the Love County family today...a family trying to cope with their loss.

21-year-old Hatak Yearby was not only a Marine but he was a Native American dancer as well.

He was known in Love County for the tribal dances he performed. He had traveled all over the world with his family performing.

His father said it takes a village to raise a child and Love County was that village.

"Flags are at half-mast in honor of my son," says Justin Yearby, Hatak's father. "It honors our family."

Flags flew at half-staff throughout the county today. Yearby's body will be returned to his family in the next seven to ten days.

He is survived by his mother and father, his two sisters--one of which is a Marine, and his wife, who he married last February.

He joined the Marines because Hatak, whose name means "free-man" was influence by past veterans, and past warriors.

The family says he treated his service in the United State Marine Corps just as he treated his tribe: with respect honor and dignity.