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A soldier from northern Maine who was killed in Iraq on Saturday had recently returned to duty after surviving a bomb blast that killed his best friend, his mother said Monday.

Spc. Joel A. House, 22, of Lee was killed while on patrol in Taji, a city abut 15 miles northwest of Baghdad, according to his parents, Paul and Deanna House. He was an active-duty member of the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division.

House suffered shrapnel wounds to his head and chest when a suicide attacker exploded a bomb at his barracks in March that left his best friend dead, Deanna House said. He was hospitalized for several days and then returned to duty in Iraq in April.

On Saturday, she said, her son was traveling in an armored vehicle when some sort of bomb exploded. Deanna House and her husband met with an Army official Monday.

She described her son, who was posthumously promoted to sergeant, as quiet and brave.

"He was humble and modest," Deanna House said. "He didn't like to make a hoo-ha about anything he did. We had to pull it out of him," she said.

House is the 34th member of the military with Maine ties to die in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. As of Sunday, at least 3,559 members of the U.S. military had died in Iraq, according to The Associated Press.

House, one of three siblings, joined the Army shortly after his graduation from Lee Academy in 2003. His mother said her son was inspired by the family's strong ties to the military. His grandfather and an uncle served in the Navy. His great-great grandfather, Charles James House, was a major in the Civil War.

After training he went straight to Iraq, his mother said. House was in his second tour there with the 1st Calvary Division, which is based in Fort Hood, Texas. His mother said he often went on patrols in armored vehicles and tanks in Taji.

A fifth-generation resident of Lee, House grew up hunting and fishing in the woods around his home. He played soccer, baseball and basketball in high school and was known among his friends for his guitar playing.

"He loved animals," said Nancy Lothrop, his grandmother.

Deanna House said the last time she spoke to her son was on Thursday. She said he was typically close-mouthed about his work. But she sensed something was bothering him from the tone of his voice. She now believes he knew he was about to head into a dangerous assignment.

"We talked about what he was doing," she said. "Did he play his guitar? 'Not too much.' Did he watch 'Spider-Man III'? 'Didn't finish it.' "

Paul House said his son's death will leave a big hole in their family, which includes an older brother, Luke, and older sister, Joy. "He was a wonderful person and a great warrior," said his father.

The family was flooded with phone calls from friends and family members.

News of House's death rocked the small town of Lee, which has a population of 845 and is in eastern Penobscot County, about an hour's drive northeast from Bangor. The news prompted condolences from members of Maine's congressional delegation. Gov. John Baldacci ordered flags to be flown at half staff the day of House's funeral.

"What has hit here has hit the whole community," Deanna House said.

His mother said when her son went off to Iraq she told him he didn't have to be a hero, he just had to come back alive.

"But it was not in his nature to be anything else than heroic," she said.

Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:

bquimby@pressherald.com