In the pocket of his military uniform, Doyle M. Hufstedler kept a sonogram picture of his unborn child. That black and white image was the closest he would ever come to seeing his first-born.

Six weeks before Grace Ashley was born, Hufstedler was killed in Iraq.

Hufstedler, 25 of Abilene, Texas, was one of five soldiers who died on March 31 in Habbaniyah, Iraq, when an bomb exploded hear their armored personnel carrier.

Much like her father, Grace has bright, blue eyes and a sense of determination, he mother said.

"She's a piece of Doyle," said Leslie Hufstedler, 25.

Saddened by the loss of her first love, Leslie said her relationship "was just about perfect," but knowing that her daughter will grow up without her father is even more upsetting.

"It's been hard for me because she'll never know him," Leslie mumbled through tears.

The new mom shares photos and stories about Hufstedler and has told Grace her father was fighting a battle in Iraq so she wouldn't have to experience war.

"We tell her he was doing what he believed in and we need to finish the job so that daddy didn't die in vain," Leslie added.

Two years ago, the newlyweds shared their first Christmas together, and last year Leslie sent a box of presents, miniature Christmas trees and holiday sweets to her husband in Iraq. Leslie, who once considered Christmas to be her favorite holiday, said this year would be different.

"I wish I could just ignore it," said Leslie. "But I have to suck it up for Grace."

Having earned a degree in sociology, the widowed mother plans on staying home and raising her daughter full-time until Grace graduates from high school.

"She's truly been a gift," Leslie said.