MONROE - When Thomas Diaz was asked to speak at the funeral of Pfc. Nicholas Greer, who had been killed in action in Iraq, he immediately agreed.

But the week between Private Greer's death Oct. 7 and his funeral yesterday yielded more pain than insight into the passing of the 21-year-old man who had been killed by a bullet wound in the neck in his second week in Iraq.

"Secondly, for the happiness and joys he bestowed upon his family, his friends, and certainly me. But thirdly, for the pride and admiration I have for him."

"Why do you want to know about the genocide and senseless killings of millions of people in Africa? No one cares," Mr. Diaz remembered saying to Nick.

The arranging of the casket and the singing of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" that ended the funeral brought efforts to hold back tears across the historic downtown church.

James Allen, another pallbearer, recalled spending the last Saturday in July at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky with the private who was a roller-coaster lover.

More than a dozen military members - including Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, the commander of more than 14,000 paratroopers - didn't know the private personally, but were at the funeral because he was one of them.

Pinned to her dress was an array of medals including a rifleman pin symbolizing the private's sniper training, his War on Terrorism medal, and the gold star that had been presented to the family upon Private Greer's death.

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