Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Don C. Viray

Died April 19, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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25, of Waipahu, Hawaii; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii; died April 19 in Divalak, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his Black Hawk (UH-60) crashed. Also killed were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nicholas S. Johnson, Spc. Dean R. Shaffer and Spc. Chris J. Workman.

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Fallen helo pilot buried in Hawaii

The Associated Press

HONOLULU — Friends and family of a 25-year-old Hawaii military helicopter pilot killed in Afghanistan remembered the fallen service member as laid-back, humble and caring.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Don C. Viray was buried May 10 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, according to The Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The ceremony included a flyover by three Hawaii Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopters, rifle volleys and taps.

Viray's sister Sherry Viray says her brother was a hero who never bragged about his achievements.

Viray was killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan on April 19. Pentagon officials say the helicopter was flying in bad weather at night.
Three others were killed in the crash.