Reply #24: .

[noamnety]

Kyle Wright joined the Army after graduating from Romeoville High School in 2006, and was based in Fort Lewis, Wash., where he met his fiancee. Skateboarding was among his interests and he had earned a contract to compete semi-professionally before joining the Army.

He quickly became fluent in Arabic after the Army placed him in the Defense Language Institute. Richard Wright said his son was selected for his high aptitude and was immersed in Arabic 10 hours a day for a year. "His writing in Arabic was like artwork."

Shortly before his death, Wright e-mailed his parents to share stories about a 6,000-pound drug and weapons seizure his team completed, which was reported on CNN. "His message said 'This was us, on our own, with a couple of helicopters,'" Richard Wright said. "He was on the front, cutting edge of this whole war effort."

"I don't know what people's stereotypes are of a quote/unquote grunt soldier, but he was the toughest, smartest, bravest man, and I don't just say that because he's my son," said Wright. "He was the very, very best."

Jan 13, 2010