Andrew David La Mont, 31, of Eureka was one of four Marines killed on a resupply mission Monday when their CH-46 Sea-Knight helicopter went down into a canal shortly after takeoff in Hillah, about 60 miles south of Baghdad. A fifth Marine drowned trying to save them.
Lance Cpl. Jason William Moore, 21, of San Marcos was also killed in the crash.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
``(Andrew) died doing what he loved,'' La Mont's brother Thomas said. ``There were many facets to Andrew, but flying was his one big love,'' Thomas La Mont said in a telephone interview after the Pentagon identified crash victims Thursday. ``He was there because he wanted to be doing what he was doing. We are all very proud of his service to the country, our country.''
La Mont was born at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland where his father, James, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, was stationed. Of the family's nine children, he was the only one to follow their father's path into the military.
``He was the baby of the family, literally,'' said La Mont, who is seven years older than his brother but closest to him in age.
La Mont served in Kosovo and was part of the helicopter detail that flew the first Marines into Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The La Mont family has two other members serving in the Middle East, including Andrew La Mont's nephew, Christopher, who was scheduled to return home from Iraq on Friday.
On April 3, as U.S. forces prepared to enter Baghdad for the final stages of the war, KGO-AM in San Francisco broadcast a live radio interview with La Mont before he flew to Baghdad to help evacuate injured troops.
``Hello to everyone in Eureka, California,'' he said. ``I look forward to coming back.''
Friends of Moore described the young Marine as always gung-ho. ``He was the only person who complained when boot camp was over because he wanted more,'' longtime friend Josh Wagner told the San Diego Union Tribune in an article published Friday.
Moore's sister Michelle said she last spoke to her brother May 16. He was excited about the possibility of becoming a crew chief at Camp Pendleton, she said. ``He promised me that he'd be back. He promised that nothing would happen to him.''
Also killed were 1st Lt. Timothy Louis Ryan, 30, of Aurora, Ill. and Staff Sgt. Aaron Dean White, 27, of Shawnee, Okla. Marine Sgt. Kirk Straseskie, 23, of Beaver Dam, Wis. died trying to rescue the crew. All the servicemen who died were based at Camp Pendleton before their units were sent to Iraq.