Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle E. Jackson

A U.S. Army helicopter pilot from Florida who also had served in the Marine Corps was killed in a crash in Iraq, his family said. Gary and Susan Jackson said they received a call Friday informing them their son, Kyle Jackson, 28, had been killed along with a co-pilot in an Army helicopter crash near Mosul, Iraq. The father of two young girls, Kyle Jackson had joined the Army because he wanted to be a commercial helicopter pilot. His first choice for duty was Korea, but instead he was sent to Iraq in October, his family said. He is the first U.S. serviceman from Sarasota to die in Iraq. "He was nervous about going," Gary Jackson said. "But he wanted to do his job, and he wanted to do it well." Jackson was born and raised in Sarasota. He graduated from New Directions High School, an alternative school that has since closed. Before joining the Army, Kyle had served four years in the Marine Corps. Before he settled on becoming a helicopter pilot, Kyle Jackson worked as an assistant manager at a pizza restaurant and installed metal roofs. He also worked for a time in the family's cabinetmaking business. "He liked to shoot guns and ride motorcycles," Susan Jackson said. "You know, typical guy stuff." His decision to go back into the service wasn't just about flying helicopters, his parents said. Kyle Jackson also wanted to serve his country after the 2001 terrorist attacks. He finished officer candidate school in March 2003 hand became a chief warrant officer. He then went to flight school. "He was so proud," Gary Jackson said. "I think when he got his wings, it was the proudest moment in his life." ___ Information from: Sarasota Herald-Tribune, http://www.herald-trib.com -- Kyle E. Jackson's family is particularly proud of something he invented called a "brass catcher." The invention, of which Kyle handmade about 70 and distributed to other pilots, catches shell casings from assault rifles and keeps the casings from getting under the helicopter pedals. His goal was to prevent accidents. "My father is very proud of that," said Kyle's brother Michael Jackson, 28, of Sarasota, Fla., died Jan. 13 when his helicopter was shot down near Al Sukar. He was assigned to Fort Drum. After four years with the Marines, Kyle Jackson worked as a manager of a Little Caesars Pizza, joined his family's cabinetry business and worked for a roofing business. But Michael said Kyle "just wasn't fulfilled doing stuff like that." So Kyle Jackson joined the Army and trained to fly. The kid who once wore green spiked hair and a dog collar hit the books. Jackson was an outdoorsman. "He liked to shoot guns and ride motorcycles," said his mother, Susan Jackson. "You know, typical guy stuff." He is survived by his wife, Betsy, and two daughters, Alia, 9, and Keira, 2.