By Gregory Childress

gchildress@heraldsun.com; 918-1046

CHAPEL HILL -- A former UNC Chapel Hill student who joined the Army in April was killed while on patrol in Afghanistan earlier this week.

U.S. Army Pfc. Morris "Mo" Walker, 23, of Fayetteville, who attended UNC from 2004-08, was reportedly killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) recently near Forward Operating Base Kushamond.

Many UNC friends and acquaintances learned of Pfc. Walker's death in an e-mail message sent to them by his sister Sabina Walker.

"I regret to inform you that Morris Walker died last night when his convoy hit an IED," Sabina Walker wrote. "I do not have any other information. His body will come back to this country sometime this week. As we know the funeral arrangements, I will let everyone know."

Others, including close friend Sam Rosenthal, a 2009 graduate of UNC, received the bad news in a telephone call from Pfc. Walker's mother.

"It's tough," said Rosenthal of Voorhees, N.J. "We knew that it was possible, but at the same time, not something we expected."

In recent conversations with Pfc. Walker, Rosenthal said the two had planned a trip to New York for New Year.

Friends since their freshman year, Rosenthal said Pfc. Walker was confident and wise beyond his years. He said he loved life and lived it to the fullest.

Rosenthal said his good friend fully understood the risks when he decided to join the Army, and often talked about them.

"He didn't want a desk job," Rosenthal said. "He wanted to go to war. He thought he was suited for it."

And in conversation with Pfc. Walker from Afghanistan, Rosenthal said he never expressed regret about his decision.

"He was never hysterical or complained about what he had to do," Rosenthal said. "He had an inner strength that was rare."

The news of Pfc. Walker's death also left those who knew him at Fayetteville Academy saddened. He graduated from the small, independent college preparatory school in 2004.

"It was taken pretty hard," said Barbara Lambert, a UNC alumna who is director of admissions at the school. "There was a lot of sadness and people remembering the great things about him."

Lambert said Pfc. Walker came by the school he attended for grades 6-12 shortly before he deployed to Afghanistan in late April. He was scheduled to spend a year there, but planned to return for two weeks of leave around Christmas.

"We're like a community that helped to raise him," said Lambert, who recalled that Mo Walker always had a big smile on face. "Seeing a child growing up from grades 6-12 is endearing."

Harriet Flowers, who taught him 10th-grade English, said Mo Walker was well-liked, had a great sense of humor and was proud upon learning he had been accepted to UNC.

"He was happy there and enjoyed his time there," Flowers said.

Patrick Boruta, a 2009 UNC grad, recalled a joint birthday party he threw with Mo Walker their junior year.

"He pretty much knew everyone on campus," Boruta said. "We invited over 3,000 people. It was wild when you walked around campus with him. I thought I knew a lot of people."

Boruta said he spoke to Pfc. Walker five days ago. He said it's tough knowing that it was their last conversation.

"He touched a lot of people," Boruta said. "He was a good person to know. He was always thinking about everyone else."