Staff Sgt. Bryan Phillip Pitney of Fort Hood, Texas, who deployed six times during his Army career, has died from injuries after a motorcycle accident, post officials announced Tuesday afternoon.
Pitney, 33, died Sunday in Burnet County, Texas, officials said. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood. The soldier from Deerfield, Michigan, joined the unit in June 2008.
He had been on active duty since 1999 and served as an AH-64 Apache helicopter repairer.
Pitney deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2002 to April 2002, March 2003 to August 2003 and April 2009 to April 2010, officials said. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from March 2005 to March 2006 and June 2011 to May 2012. Pitney returned from Afghanistan, his sixth war-zone deployment, just 11 days ago, said his wife, Christina.
"He was truly an amazing man, and he is missed by so many people," Christina Pitney said. "He was the love of my life."
In addition to his wife, Staff Sgt. Pitney is survived by four children: Logan, 12, Aydan, 9, Calli, 7, and Bryson, 13 months. He is also survived by his parents Bonnie and Daniel; his brother Justin, sister Danielle Wright, nieces and nephews and his maternal grandmother.
Pitney was an avid motorcycle rider, his wife said.
"He was home [from deployment] one day and he was already working on getting [his bike] up and ready," she said.
Pitney's awards and decorations include six Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, five Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, Iraqi Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal and Aviation Badge.
