 Garnet R. Derby U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel 1965-2009 Missoula |
Services held for Mont. soldier
BILLINGS, Mont. — Lt. Col. Gary Derby, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq, was remembered Feb. 27 as a dedicated soldier, a devoted father and a loving husband.
Derby, 44, of Missoula, died Feb. 9 in Mosul in an attack that killed three other soldiers and an interpreter.
Brig. Gen. David Hogg, the military presiding general officer at the service, said Derby was a proud Montanan, a solid soldier and a true friend who died serving his country.
Capt. Robert Tindall, who served under Derby, said Derby cared about his soldiers and gave company officers the freedom to command.
The memorial service was held at Faith Chapel in Billings. Derby was to be buried Feb. 27 at Fort Harrison State Veterans Cemetery, west of Helena.
Derby was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas.
Story courtesy of The Associated Press.