Army Lt. David T. Wright II was considered a hero not only to his parents but also to his fellow soldiers and friends.

Wright's best friend, 1st Lt. Dax Thomas, said a day hasn't passed when he doesn't stop and think about his college roommate.

"He was like a brother to me," Thomas said during a phone interview from his assignment at Fort Huachuca in Arizona.

Thomas is a member of the Army National Guard's 1st/158th Field Artillery unit stationed in Lawton.

"We were both on the sprint team together and instantly bonded," Thomas said.

He said Wright took time out of his schedule to show Thomas the team's routine.

"He kind of took me under his wing," Thomas said. "I was a walk on in 2004 for the track team. David looked after me and showed me the ropes."

Thomas said Wright was the kind of person who could walk into a room full of strangers and lead the crowd. He was not surprised when Wright entered the military world.

"I'm actually the one who took him to the recruiter's office," he said.

Thomas said Wright loved being a soldier and leading his troops.

"You just kind of have to be in a military mindset to sleep in the dirt with the troops. You either have it or you don't, and David definitely had the mindset," he said.

Thomas said in one of Wright's final letters to his family, Wright spoke about helping the people of Afghanistan live better lives.

"He gave the ultimate sacrifice for not only us, but for someone who we will not meet," Thomas said.

Thomas recalled helping Wright move to Fort Lewis when he received his military orders in 2008.

"The last time we hung out was this road trip," he said. "We went from Oklahoma City to Fort Lewis together. "It was probably one of the best weeks of my life."