Every wall in Chad Frokjer's childhood bedroom in Maplewood celebrates his eight years as a Marine. There are photos from boot camp graduation and a favorite picture with buddy Eric Oden, a fellow Marine sergeant, taken in Iraq. There's a citation for excellence in navigation curriculum and a trophy Frokjer won for outstanding performance during an infantry squad leader course.

"He signed up for the Marines right after 9/11 because he wanted to make sure nothing like that ever happened again," said his father, Brian.

Frokjer, 27, was killed Thursday in Afghanistan's Helmand province after he walked over an IED while on foot patrol. Based out of Camp Pendleton near San Diego, Frokjer was convoy commander of a mobile assault team for the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Division, 1st Marine Division.

He graduated from North High School in North St. Paul in 2002 and joined the Marines in the fall of the following year. He served two tours in Iraq and was deployed to Afghanistan on March 27.

Frokjer liked to say he joined the Marines "because they were the best and the baddest," his mother Arlene said with a laugh.

His high school nickname of "Frokdaddy" stuck with him in the military, even showing up on one plaque.

Frokjer was a homebody who liked to play video games late into the night, but he'd get up at 6 a.m. in California to go to a sports bar to watch the Vikings. He was the kind of fan who remembered obscure statistics, names and dates.

"He just sparkled," said his older sister Nikki, who lived with him in California for the past three years. "So generous and so full of energy."

He'd go on a 13-mile hike at Camp Pendleton and come home, put some Johnny Cash on his headset and hit the elliptical machine at the gym for a few hours.

Frokjer and his sister entertained many of the 15-member squad at their apartment in Oceanside, Calif., on Sundays, and he loved them like family, she said.

Frokjer slipped off and quietly married Leslie Jaroscak on Nov. 3, 2010, planning a bigger celebration later. She didn't like NASCAR as much as her husband, according to Frokjer's family, but she loved to snuggle in front of the television with him.

"She was the missing piece of the puzzle in this perfect life," said his sister.

Leslie is pregnant with their first child, whom they decided to name Eli James. The baby is scheduled to be born Sept. 28.

"This is what he wanted. He wanted her to be pregnant before he left," Arlene Frokjer said. "It's like he wanted to leave a legacy with the love of his life."

Four days before he died, Frokjer wrote on Facebook: "Word up from the stan!" he said, referring to Afghanistan. "Miss all of you ... love you wife, baby and family."

A memorial ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at Holman Field in downtown St. Paul when the casket arrives from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Visitation will be on Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 2499 N. Helen St., North St. Paul.

Jackie Crosby • 612-673-7335