MIAMI -- A soldier from South Florida was killed in Iraq while giving toys and candy to children.

Private First Class Marius Ferrero, 23, of Miami, was killed Sunday in Baqouba, Iraq, with two other Army soldiers from his Stryker brigade.

"He didn't suffer," his older brother, Manny, said. "It was instant. Thank God for that. I don't want him to suffer."

The official notice from the Pentagon said an improvised explosive device detonated during a mounted patrol, but his family was told a suicide bomber attacked in a playground as the soldiers distributed toys and candy to children, and that three children also died.

"This guy came over with a bomb jacket and it exploded," Manny said.

Since the day her son enlisted last winter, Maribel Ferrero knew the knock on the door could come. She just never believed it would.

"He was telling us, 'Mom, don't worry about me. I'm gonna be OK. I'm gonna come back,'" his mother said.

Manny wears a Rosary from his grandfather's funeral three weeks ago. Ferrero surprised his family by returning to South Florida for the service. He arrived at his base just days before the attack.

"He wanted to have Thanksgiving dinner before he left," Manny said.

His mother told Local 10 the Coral Park High graduate thought the war was "stupid" but that "he just wanted to go."