Army Capt. Darrick D. Wright

Died September 17, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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37, of Nashville, Tenn.; assigned to the 926th Engineer Brigade, Montgomery, Ala.; died Sept. 17 in Baghdad of a non-combat related illness.

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Army Capt. Darrick D. Wright remembered

The Associated Press

Darrick D. Wright was known not only for his engineering and leadership skills, but also for his kindness, faith and 100-watt smile.

“He lit up a room,” said Lt. Jeremy Tallent. “He was a big old teddy bear with a big old smile.”

Wright, 37, of Nashville, Tenn., died Sept. 17 in Baghdad of a non-combat cardiac arrest. He was assigned to Montgomery, Ala.

“He was a great soldier,” Capt. Michael Beach. “He had the skills, the knowledge, the expertise, everything required for soldiering. But he was an all-around good guy, and that made a world of difference.”

In civilian life, Wright was employed by the Tennessee Valley Authority. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, graduating with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and in 1996 was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Engineer Corps.

He is survived by his wife, Katina, and their expected son, Trevor, due in November.

During a funeral service, Brig. Gen. William Buckle recalled that Wright’s fellow officers “talked about how he was the heartbeat of the unit.”

“This man was not only a great American, but a great human being,” he said.