Family and friends say their final goodbyes to a soldier with local ties.

Funeral services were held for Sergeant James Johnston in Texas Monday afternoon. Johnston was one of two U.S. soldiers killed by small arms fire in Afghanistan on June 25.

He joined the military after attending high school in Trumansburg in Tompkins County, where he met his wife Krista. He was an explosives disposal specialist with the 79th Ordnance Battalion out of Fort Hood.

Johnston was a decorated soldier, with honors including the bronze star and Purple Heart but his wife says he will be most remembered for the love he showed everyone in his life.

"I know you all thought you were friends, but as soon as he took you guys in you became family to him,” said Johnston’s wife Krista. “And that's the highest honor you could ever get from him, because he would do anything for his family."

Johnston leaves behind his wife, their unborn daughter, his parents and five siblings.