Voluntown - Even though Tyler Griffin was five years older than his neighbor Michael Delamater, he always had time for his younger friend, showing him a thing or two with the soccer ball.



"I'm so sad to see him go," Delamater said Sunday. "He always talked about being a Marine."



The 19-year-old Griffin, who joined the Marines in 2008, was killed last week in Afghanistan. He was 19 years old.



On Sunday morning, a military transport plane returned his body to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware where his mother and stepfather had traveled.



As of Sunday, the Department of Defense has not released any details about the death of Griffin, who was a lance corporal. Reached Sunday afternoon, Maj. Charles Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Connecticut National Guard, did not have further details about Griffin's death or any memorial activities.



According to Voluntown First Selectman Ronald J. Millovitsch, Griffin's mother, Susan Wilding, and stepfather, John Wilding, drove to Delaware Saturday to attend to the body. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.



In the meantime, Millovitsch said this small town of 2,600 people "will do everything it can for the family."



"We only have four flags in front of our public buildings," Millovitsch said. "And all of them are at half-staff."



Mourners have been leaving flowers and notes of condolence by the Wildings' mailbox and two memorial pages on Facebook have been set up totaling more than 700 fans.



Griffin graduated from Griswold High School in 2008 and was a member of the school's football team.



Gov. M. Jodi Rell Saturday ordered flags at government buildings in the state to be at half staff.



The Delameters, who live across Congdon Road from Griffin's family, also lowered the American flag in their front yard as a commemoration.



'Tyler was such an inspiration," said John Delamater Jr., Michael's father. " It's really sad. He was a good kid, from a really good family."



Delamater Jr. said they always knew when Griffin was home on leave because the house would be flying a Marine Corps flag.



"They were very, very proud of him," Delamater Jr. said.



Bill Martin, who lives next door to the Wildings, said Griffin's father died about five years ago. His mother has since remarried.



He said Griffin had a reputation for being a "good kid" in the neighborhood.



Martin recalled Griffin would go running around the neighborhood to prepare for basic training.



"We'd see him out there on Route 49," Martin said. "He'd always wave."

