Army Captain Sean Lyerly, 31, of Pflugerville, Texas was assigned to the Texas Army National Guard’s 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, 36th Infantry Division, Austin, Texas. He died in Baghdad on Jan. 20, 2007, when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter he was in crashed, reportedly as a result of an enemy-fired, surface-to-air missile. Eleven others also perished in the attack.

Capt Lyerly graduated from Stratford High School in Houston in 1994 and went on to earn a degree in horticulture at Texas A&M University. He entered the military in the Texas Army National Guard on Oct. 26, 1996, and became a Cadet in the Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC) at Texas A&M.

In 2005, Capt Lyerly completed his training to become a UH-60 helicopter pilot. He was placed on active duty in February 2006 and deployed in August to provide aviation support and security throughout the combat zone.

His wife, Csilla Lyerly, said he worked as a pilot for the National Guard during hurricanes Katrina and Rita, spending several months flying in supplies and helping with rescue missions. “My husband was a wonderful man,” she said. “He was loving, passionate and full of integrity.”

Capt Lyerly is survived by his wife and son, Zackary.