NEWBURYPORT, Mass. -- The town of Newburyport honored one of its own Friday -- a young man who heard the call to duty defending his country in the war on terrorism.

NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that 1st Lt. Derek Hines lost his life in Afghanistan last week, but he never lost his faith in the cause.

Hines died last week in Afghanistan in a firefight with Taliban forces. Friday, the overflow crowd at Hines' funeral spilled into the yard at Newburyport's Immaculate Conception Church. His father's eulogy quoted his son's captain.

"There should be no doubt that Derek Hines died doing something he loved on a mission he believed in, alongside men who believed in him," Hines' father, Steven Hines, said.

Earlier this week, his state trooper father remembered the West Point grad's commitment.

"He didn't just want to be a West Point grad. He wanted to do his part," he said.

And in a recent letter, Derek said: "The men who surround me are America's heroes. They amaze me with their perseverance and determination."

The service was sprinkled with both laughter and tears. They remembered the prankster and athlete who captained the Army hockey team. The Army officer leaves behind a sister, two brothers, and a town full of people, who lined the streets to honor, remember and celebrate his life.

"Its a parent's worst nightmare. You hope, it's always in the back of your mind, you hope you never see those guys at your door," Hines said.