Italy -- A Greene County family is mourning the loss of their son on Friday.

Kenneth Hauprich, 21, died Thursday when a U.S. Army Helicopter crashed in Italy.

Everyone called him Kenny. He was a graduate of Greeneview High School in Jamestown, and it was his dream to be in the military.

The flags at Greeneview High School flew at half staff Friday in honor of the 2004 granduate.

High School Principal Dr. Wallace Campbell said, “We’re really proud of him.”

Wallace said when he learned of the helicopter crash in Italy, he was devastated and called Hauprich’s family right away.

He said, “I talked with his younger brother. He put his father on the phone and told me that the family is having a difficult time, but is hanging in there.”

Many of the students currently at the school do not know Hauprich personally since he graduated in 2004, but many know his younger siblings.

Joining the Armed Forces was something that Hauprich had apparently wanted to do since he was little.

Campbell said Hauprich would go around and trick or treat as a little Army man.

Hauprich lived in Italy. He was married and had just recently become a new dad.