WOWK -- WASHINGTON -- There is a new name to be added to the list of West Virginians who have died serving their country.

Chief Warrant Officer Four Brent S. Cole, 38, of Reedsville in Preston County, was killed when his AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopter went down near the town of Tarin Kowt, in the Oruzgan Province of Afghanistan on Friday, according to the 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office.

Cole served as an AH-64D Instructor Pilot and Safety Officer for Company C, 1st Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), (Task Force Wolfpack), 82nd Abn. Div.

Cole's colleagues and family remember him warmly.

“He was a loving, dedicated husband and father who adored his family to the highest degree. As a military officer, he was a consummate professional who always led by example and was revered by his peers and leaders alike. His loss is devastating to the family, Army Aviation and to our country. His family and I are proud to have had him in our lives and he will forever remain deep in our hearts," Cole's wife Vanessa said in a statement released to the media.

"Chief Warrant Officer Four Brent Cole was a warrior; a combat veteran on his third Global War on Terrorism deployment. His loss is a tragedy that words cannot adequately describe. Brent was an exceptional Army Aviation professional who died doing what he loved, flying Apache helicopters while answering his nation's call to duty. Freedom is not free, and today we owe this family a huge debt of gratitude for the sacrifice of Brent Cole in service to his nation; we shall never forget him or his family,” said Col. Paul W. Bricker, commander, 82nd CAB (Task Force Pegasus). “The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade will continue our mission in southern Afghanistan with renewed determination in honor of Brent's sacrifice."

Cole was born August 12, 1970 in Morgantown, and graduated from West Preston High School in 1988, according to Cole's wife's statement.

He then graduated from the Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama in 1998, and attended the AH-64 Apache Qualification Course.

Cole was deployed three times while serving the U. S. Army, the unit's release goes on to say, and, according to the 82nd Airborne's release, received many awards and decorations.

Those commendations included: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal with Valor, the Air Medal 2nd device, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation Award, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Ribbon 2nd device, the NATO Medal, the Multinational Force and Observers Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist’s Badge, the Driver’s Badge and the Senior Army Aviator Badge.

A memorial service was held for Cole in Afghanistan on Sunday, the release said.

Cole's family is planning to hold funeral services both in Fayetteville, N. C. and in Masontown, W. V., according to their press statement.