He died as an American hero. The widow of a Fort Carson soldier tells 11 News that her husband was just too young. He was just 24 years old.

Sgt. Joshua Rimer died in Afghanistan on Wednesday, July 22. His wife, Annalisa, had just talked with her husband just minutes before he went on his mission, just minutes before he was killed when a bomb exploded near his Humvee.

“He was everything to me. He was my partner, best friend… I don't know what I’m going to do," said Annalisa.

She said Joshua was the most amazing person she ever knew. “He's a good leader and works hard. People like him. You were lucky if you knew him."

Sgt. Rimer joined the Army right after high school. He received a Purple Heart during his first deployment to Iraq in 2004. Rimer left for his second tour to Iraq in February and was re-located to Afghanistan in April.

"People who met him, appreciated him. He would take people under his wing and keep them safe. He wanted men to be well-trained, so they stayed safe."

As the young widow wiped away her tears, Joshua’s dog tags sit around her neck, close to her heart. She said that’s exactly where her husband, her hero, still lives.

Sgt. Rimer was supposed to come home in September for R and R to celebrate his two-year anniversary with his wife. He would've returned home in February when he was going to leave the military.

Joshua’s parents and extended family are flying to Colorado to attend a memorial service. If you would like to help them out, visit ENT Federal Credit Union and make a donation to Joshua Rimer.