Soldier who died in training accident remembered

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Nov 2, 2009 at 11:15 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 2, 2009 at 11:15 PM MST

LIBBY - A 29-year-old Army sergeant killed during a training mission off the Virginia coast is remembered in Libby as a passionate man and a fine soldier.

More than 100 people gathered Monday at the funeral of Army Staff Sgt. James R. Stright, who died Oct. 23 when a helicopter crashed on a Navy ship as he and others were rappelling down a rope to the ship's deck.

Stright's father, retired Master Sgt. Bob Stright, said after the accident that his son was "fine soldier" and "the elite of the elite."

On Monday, Chaplain Cary Snelling said the younger Stright "earned his rank" and "he didn't just wear it." Stright was a soldier in C Company, 3rd Battalion of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, headquartered at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga.

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