KENNER, La. -- American flags and yellow ribbons adorn the Bovia house on Platt Drive in Kenner.
Tuesday night, Herbert and Teresa Bovia got the news all military parents fear - their son Joseph was killed in action.
The 24-year-old Marine sergeant died in a shoot-out in Marjah, a town in southern Afghanistan.
"He's my hero," said Herbert Bovia. "I can't say enough about him. He lived a clean life and he was just a good kid."
"My son was a child of Jesus Christ and the Lord called him to do what he was doing," said Theresa Bovia. "Secondly he was our child, and thirdly he was a Marine."
Joseph's bedroom is full of momentoes and medals from his six-year military career.
"This is a couple of helmets from Iraq that he brought home," his mother said.
His father said from the day Joseph could say Marine, he wanted to be one. He said his son was offered a stateside job as a demolitions instructor, but opted for a combat mission in Afghanistan.
"He convinced his first sergeant and lieutenant to change his orders at the last minute and volunteered to go because he wanted to be back there," said Herbert. "He was a warrior. He wanted to get into the fight."
Bovia was a decorated ROTC cadet at Bonnabel High School. Teachers remember the 2004 graduate as a class leader and role model.
"We are very proud of him," said English teacher Toni Lobdell. "It's a very sad, sad thing for us to learn about this and he will be truly missed, but it's a loss for society. He made a sacrifice that a lot of people aren't willing to make. Yet, because of his sacrifice, the rest of us can have the freedoms and the opportunities that we're going to have. We at Bonnabel owe him a great deal."
Bovia's father is a 30-year veteran of the NOPD. He said he spoke to his son by phone just three days ago.
"Talked about the Saints and things like that," said Herbert. "He was proud of that. He took a lot of ribbing over the years with his guys at the base about the Saints and stuff. He was proud of that."
A now faded Marine Corps flag hangs in the Bovia's front window. It's been there since Joseph did his first tour of duty in Iraq five years ago. He did two tours in Iraq before his latest mission in Afghanistan.
"He couldn't wait to go," his father said. "He was bored being in the Far East and it's just what he wanted to do. It's what he lived for."
"He's a hero, but he's with his maker," said his mother.
Sgt. Bovia's body will be flown home to Kenner next week. Pending the arrival of his body from Afghanistan, which may be delayed, Bovia's visitation will be at the First Baptist Church in New Orleans, 5290 Canal Blvd., Tuesday night from 6 to 9. A funeral service will be held at the same church on Wednesday at 11 a.m. followed by the burial at the Garden of Memories in Metairie.
