BILOXI, Miss. — At his funeral Saturday at Biloxi National Cemetery, Marine Lance Cpl. Roger W. Deeds was remembered as a loving father who is counted among America’s heroes.

Deeds, 24, of Biloxi died Nov. 16 in Ubaydi, Iraq, while battling insurgents. He and three other Marines died in an exchange of small-arms fire from insurgents.

As Marines carrying the casket of Deeds rose their hands to salute, Deeds’ 16-month-old son, Alaric, gently said: “da-da.”

Deeds’ wife, Sarah, had said she met her husband while they were students at Biloxi High School, where Deeds graduated in 2000.

She said Deeds was hurt during his first tour when his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb. She said he stayed in Iraq to recuperate from his wounds.

Sarah said he came home in October 2004 to see Alaric for the first time the baby had been born in July 2004, a...