Army Staff Sgt. James R. Ide V wasn't afraid to talk about the prospect of his own death.

"He always knew it was a distinct possibility," said his aunt, Carol Kline.

As the handler of a bomb-sniffing dog, Ide of Festus was often in a vulnerable spot, at the front of his Army unit when it was on maneuvers.

Ide, 32, who was serving in Afghanistan, told his wife, Mandy, exactly what to post on Facebook if he was killed.

On Sunday, she posted that message: "I do not know what to say, but this is the way Jimmy asked me to tell his friends. Jimmy passed away this morning. He died in combat in Afghanistan. Jimmy loved his job and if he could choose a way to go this would be it."

Ide also leaves behind a daughter, Trinity, 7, and a 16-month-old son, Jas. His family was living in Germany.

Kline said the family didn't have many details on how Ide was killed. A news release from the Department of Defense says Ide's unit came under small-arms fire from insurgents at Hyderabad.

Ide was a 1997 graduate of De Soto High, who joined the army after high school. Kline said he loved animals and became interested in service dogs through a cousin who trained them.

At the time of his death, Ide was working with a Belgian Malinois dog, who was always at his side, Kline said.

Ide met his wife while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He served one tour in Korea and two in Iraq. His tour in Afghanistan was scheduled to end in October, Kline said.

Kline said her nephew's Christian faith was a large part of his life and that he often made reference to the Bible in conversations. Ide also enjoyed writing poetry and riding motorcycles and was endlessly curious about the world, Kline said.

"He really just liked playing with his kids and being with friends," Kline said.

Funeral arrangements are pending with the Mahn Funeral Home in Festus.