One of a fallen Fond du Lac soldier's best friends says he was a man of principle.
Captain Derek Dobogai was among 14 soldiers killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in northern Iraq last week. Adam Mueller ran cross country and played basketball with Derek while the two attended Winnebago Lutheran Academy.
After they graduated in 1999 they kept in touch and tried to get together whenever Derek could manage to get home. Mueller says he was shocked to hear of Derek's death.
Mueller says Derek knew he wanted to serve his country and he admires him for that. Mueller says one of the things that unites their circle of friends is a strong faith and that's what's going to get them through their grief over Derek's death.
Mueller says Derek had a strong faith and that's what will get the rest of them through their grief. He says Derek was a man of principle and will always be a hero to him.