As the sobering news spread this week that one of their own died at war, residents of Terrell knew immediately that they would soon gather along flag-lined downtown streets for a procession.

Just as they have done four times before.

Army Spc. Joseph "Joe" Michael Lewis, 26, whose wife and young daughter live in Terrell, became the fifth service member from the city of about 15,500 to die in Afghanistan or Iraq since 2004. He is the second to die since October.

"Having a second one so soon, it's kind of a little bit of a shock," said Terrell Fire Chief Jim Harper. "I guess you see and hear about the war in Afghanistan and Iraq every day on the news, but this puts so much more of a personal spin on it for those of us here."

Army Sgt. Gerardo Moreno, 23, was killed April 6, 2004, in a rocket-propelled grenade attack near Ashula. Sgt. Sean Brady Berry died in October 2005 in Iraq. Spc. Jonathan David Arthur "J.D." Emard, 20, died of combat wounds in Tikrit, Iraq, in June 2008.

Sgt. Shawn McNabb, a 24-year-old combat medic, was killed last month in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

The town isn't so small that everyone knows everyone else. But the connections between residents and the servicemen or their surviving relatives aren't far removed. So news of another fallen soldier moved fast this week.

"You're never more than one or two steps away from knowing the people involved," said Mayor Hal Richards, who attends Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd with the Lewis family.

David Emard, whose son, J.D., was killed in Iraq last year, and Lewis' dad, Mike Lewis, have worked together at Oldcastle Glass for years. The mother of Moreno, the first Terrell serviceman to die, works for the same company.

After J.D. Emard died, Mike Lewis often comforted his grieving co-worker. On Wednesday, David Emard and his wife, Debbie, went to the Lewis home to offer condolences.

David Emard said words were hard to find. So he just hugged Lewis.

"That's all that was needed," Emard said. "He knows where I've been and I know what he's feeling."

Debbie Emard said that when they arrived at the Lewises, the mother of Berry, who died in 2005, was already there. She and Joe Lewis' mother have been friends since childhood, Debbie Emard said.

While the relationships can bring understanding, the repeated grief can also conjure private pain.

"We want to be there for those families, but it's hard because you kind of relive it all," Debbie Emard said.

Defense officials have not released information about Lewis' death in Afghanistan, which was confirmed by family members and Terrell residents. Relatives, who could not be reached for comment, said in a written statement that Lewis was fun-loving and would do anything to help people.

They called him "G.I. Joe."

"We are heartbroken, but are proud of Joe's dedication and service to our country," relatives said in the statement. "He loved his job, country, family and friends. Joe wanted to be a soldier since he was a child."

Residents said that, at times, there's a hesitation to learn about what's going on in Afghanistan or Iraq. Knowing sometimes means learning of another local soldier dying.

"We're almost afraid to hear what's going on," said Janice Sauer, who lives on the same street as the Lewises and goes to their church.

At other times, there's a lingering need for the caskets that keep coming through downtown to mean something.

"Particularly among those who came through Vietnam, we have this fear that maybe we're not doing things the right way," Richards said.

But at all times, no matter whose body is brought home, there is a collective pride and commemoration of military service that permeates the repetition and sorrows.

"Everybody turns out to honor these people, living and dead, going and coming," said Rick King, president of Terrell's Lions Club.

That's not to say they're immune to the emotional gravity of their losses.

"We're a small community here, and we're getting hit pretty hard," King said.

The dates for Lewis' services were not known Thursday. His body was scheduled to arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Thursday night. But much of what is expected when he comes home to Terrell has been well-rehearsed by now.

Volunteers will probably plant more than 170 large flags along the route through town.

Residents will silently wave handheld flags as the hearse slowly passes.

The route to Terrell from whatever local airport Lewis' remains are flown to will probably see people paying respects.

"The entire route, all 30 miles, there's people up and down the road," said Max Slayton, the operations director at Anderson Clayton Funeral Home. This also will be the funeral home's fifth service.

Terrell residents say they avoid being resentful. Their focus stays fixed on the personal sacrifice that brings these coffins to town.

"I don't think it makes anybody bitter," said Richards, the mayor. "I think everyone is proud of the representation we have in the armed services."

A benefit fund has been set up for the daughter of Spc. Joseph "Joe" Michael Lewis at American National Bank of Texas, 206 N. Catherine St., Terrell, (972) 442-6565.

In addition to his daughter, Abiagael, Lewis is survived by his wife, Teresa; parents, Mike and Pam Lewis; sister and brother-in-law, Amanda and Josh Rodriguez; and grandparents, Carl and Betty Baker and Barbara Hall.

Army Sgt. Gerardo Moreno, 23, killed April 2004 in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Iraq.

Sgt. Sean Brady Berry, 26, died in an accident in October 2005 in Iraq.

Spc. Jonathan David Arthur "J.D." Emard, 20, died of combat wounds in June 2008 in Iraq.

Sgt. Shawn McNabb, 24, killed in October in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

Spc. Joseph Michael Lewis, 26, died in November in Afghanistan.