This is the Calhoun, Ga., soldier who was killed in Afghanistan, 1st Sgt. John D. Blair.

A man who went to boot camp before finishing high school has been honored by both his home and adopted states for giving his life during a firefight in Afghanistan.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear announced the state's flags will fly at half-staff on the day that Kentucky native 1st Sgt. John Blair is buried.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., called the soldier, who lived in Calhoun, Ga., an "American hero and patriot" on the House floor.

Funeral services with full military honors will be Wednesday, according to the Gordon County Sheriff's Office, where 1st Sgt. Blair served as a deputy for more than eight years before taking a full-time position with the Georgia National Guard.

A husband, father and grandfather, 1st Sgt. Blair served as an example and mentor to his fellow deputies and soldiers, friends and colleagues said.

Growing up in Harlan County, Ky., he joined the Kentucky National Guard between his junior and senior years in high school and later moved to Calhoun, where he worked with the sheriff's office.

Deputies wore black bands around their badges last week in memory of the man they called "Gooch."

"He was passionate about everything he did," Detective Shane Parrott said of his longtime friend.

Soldiers echoed his comments.

During a 45-minute firefight in Mado Zayi, Afghanistan, on June 20, Staff Sgt. Timothy Bellinger heard the first sergeant's gun blazing from the vehicle's gun turret, firing about 80 rounds before a rocket-propelled grenade tore through the turret, according the military newspaper Stars and Stripes.

"I am going to miss him. I miss him already. But we are going to wake up, put our boots on and do what we came here to do," the staff sergeant told the Stars and Stripes.

He said 1st Sgt. Blair admonished his troops not to "ever give up. You don't ever give up."

The Georgia soldier was a "tough, unrelenting" leader, the Stars and Stripes reported.

"He was the meanest, kindest person you'd ever meet," Pfc. Justin Campbell told Stars and Stripes. "If he didn't cuss at you, he didn't like you."

First Sgt. Blair was a part of Company A of the Guard's 48th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Division.