A southwest Ohio community is mourning the death of a local Marine who was killed in Afghanistan.
30-year-old Captain David S. Mitchell was one of 14 U.S. troops that died in combat on Monday.
"He had leader abilities," said former football coach Kevin Taylor.
"Seth was an amazing kid," added teacher Julie Powers.
Former teachers called Mitchell a natural leader. Friends called him Seth and classmates in high school voted him "Mr. Personality."
Mitchell was senior class president. He made quite an impression during his four years at Loveland High School.
"Into everything, into student council, into sports into football; everything he did, he was a leader," said Powers.
"He wasn't the biggest kid on the team, but didn't go down without a fight," said Taylor.
Assistant Athletic Director Kevin Taylor was Mitchell's football coach, and his son, T.J. was good friends with Mitchell. T.J. called his dad to tell him Mitchell had died in Afghanistan.
"My wife took the phone call. I knew something was wrong. When she told me, I couldn't believe it," said Taylor.
The Pentagon said Mitchell of Loveland was one of four Marines who died Monday when two helicopters collided in flight over Afghanistan's Helmand province.
Military officials said in a statement Tuesday that Mitchell and the others were killed while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan.
"[We're] losing our finest in this war, sending the best and they're not coming back all the time," said Powers.
"We get emails about when they get deployed to Iraq or overseas. Our first thought is hoping they come back," said Taylor.
After Mitchell graduated from high school, he went to Virginia Tech. There he participated in the ROTC Program before joining the Marines. Friends said he dreamed of becoming a pilot.
"If my son can turn out to be half the young man Seth had become I would consider myself a successful parent. He was a true inspiration," said Powers.
Mitchell was assigned to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.
