The latest Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan wanted a career in the military from the time he was a child, his mother said Monday.
Jihan Diab called her son a "hero," telling reporters from her Mississauga, Ont. home on Monday that 22-year-old Trooper Marc Diab had always been proud to serve his country.
"Marc called himself a soldier since he was probably eight, or before that," she said. "What a hero he is. He was never scared. He wanted peace for every single part of the world."
Diab was weeks away from coming home and settling down. His family said he was planning to buy an apartment and to propose to his long-time girlfriend Mary Barakat.
Barakat and Diab have known each other since their families lived in Lebanon.
Barakat, 21, told CTV Toronto that she has been "living a nightmare" since she found out Diab had been killed.
"It's not fair at all," she said quietly, clutching metal I.D. tags (dog tags) he gave her this past summer.
Jihan Diab found out her son was killed when two military personnel knocked on the family's door. She said at first she thought her son was coming home early to surprise her. Then they told her the terrible news.
Diab, a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, based in Petawawa, Ont. was attacked Sunday with four of his comrades in the southern portion of Shah Wali Kot district. The area is in a mountainous region, and is well known as a transit point for Taliban fighters entering the province. The other soldiers are reportedly in stable condition.
He is the fourth Canadian soldier to die this past week and the 112th Canadian soldier to be killed since the country's mission in Afghanistan began in 2002.
Condolences began pouring in for the fallen soldier across the country and online on Facebook, where a group was set up to remember the young man.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that although Diab "paid the ultimate price" for his country, his commitment serves as an example of the bravery of the Canadian soldiers on the mission.
Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance said from Afghanistan Monday that Diab died in "pursuit of a noble goal" - the desire to transform an "unstable and impoverished country into a secure and self-sufficient nation."
Canada's former top soldier also paid his respects to the soldier's family in an interview with CTV Ottawa on Monday.
"My heart quivered this morning also when I heard about the death of our young trooper from the Royal Canadian Dragoons, that young Canadian. And anybody who has followed his story of life is inspired by him," Gen. Rick Hillier told CTV Ottawa.
Hillier said he wants Diab's family to know that Canadians are thinking of them as they deal with their loss.
"I know that Canadians from coast to coast to coast have that family and that great young Canadian in their thoughts and in their prayers today," said Hillier.
Diab's family is no stranger to war. The family moved to Canada in 2000 from war-torn Lebanon.
The trooper's mother said her son had vowed to continue his work with the military long after his current stint finished in 2011. He also planned to continue his work with a local church, leading a summer camp for kids.
His mother said she remembered how Diab promised her she would be safe.
"He told me, 'Mom it's good, I won't be in danger so much'," she recalled.
Jihan Diab said she prays that all Canadian soldiers will be brought home safe.
"Everybody in the military is my son. Bring them all back, please bring them all back," she said, clutching an army uniform. "Bring every single person back to their mothers, please."
Diab's remains are being flown to CFB Trenton for a repatriation ceremony later this week.
With files from The Canadian Press and a report from Austin Delaney
