FALLBROOK -- Friends of a decorated Navy SEAL who grew up in Fallbrook and died in Iraq this week described him as a quiet, athletic young man whose dream was to join the elite Sea Air Land commandos after high school.

Chief Petty Officer Mark T. Carter, 27, was killed "while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom," the Navy said in a press release Thursday. Navy officials declined to elaborate.

As a SEAL, Carter earned a long list of honors, including two bronze stars with "V" for valor, a Joint Service Commendation Medal with "V" and various other awards for achievement, combat and good conduct.

He is survived by his father, Tom, and mother, Cindy, along with three brothers and four sisters. Carter's family moved to Northern California, and efforts to contact them were unsuccessful Thursday.

Jonathan Moffat, who grew up with Carter and was a year ahead of him in school, said he was interested in anything that had to do with Navy SEALs or the military.

"I can remember playing paintball with him, and he'd always be the one hiding in the grass, or making cover out of potato sacks," said Moffat, 28, who now lives in Los Angeles but went to school and church with Carter in Fallbrook. "He always took it one step further. Ever since I can remember, he had Navy SEAL posters up on the wall of his room."

He added that Carter was well-liked within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fallbrook, where his family attended.

Carter enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Fallbrook High in 1998. He volunteered for SEAL training in Coronado in 1999 and served with two West Coast SEAL teams until 2004, when he was assigned to an East Coast-based team, said Naval Special Warfare spokesman Lt. David Luckett.

Carter was stationed at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Norfolk, Va., at the time of his deployment in Iraq.

Beth Moffat, a friend of the Carters when they lived in Fallbrook, said the tightknit Mormon community in Fallbrook has been hit hard by the news of Carter's death.

"I think we're all very sad, and he'll be missed," she said. "But we believe we'll be with him and see him again. It doesn't make the pain any less, but it certainly gives you hope."

Growing up, Carter was pleasant and focused, said Beth Moffat.

"He was an outstanding young man," she said, adding that his making the SEAL program was not a surprise. "His goal in life was to be a Navy SEAL -- that's all he ever wanted to do."

In a Navy press release, Carter's commanding officer, who was not identified, was quoted calling Carter an "outstanding SEAL, teammate, and great American."

"His ultimate sacrifice, the most noble act for any American warrior, is our tragic loss and I urge those who knew him to honor his life, in the best way we know how," said the unnamed officer, according to the Navy.

Contact staff writer Tom Pfingsten at (760) 740-3516 or tpfingsten@nctimes.com.