Army Capt. Erick Foster, a paratrooper from Franklin Park who was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, died on Wednesday from injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit a day earlier in Muqdadiyah, Iraq. A soldier honored for his military heroism and leadership, he was 29.

Capt. Erick Foster

Capt. Foster was the commander of A Troop, 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Paratrooper, based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Capt. Foster was born in Franklin and grew up in Oil City, Venango County, before his family moved to Franklin Park when he was in the eighth grade. Even then his family said he was dutiful to his friends and serious about life and work.

A 1996 graduate of North Allegheny High School, he was a receiver on the football team. He finished Duquesne University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in business with an emphasis on information technology. He was active in ROTC and was commissioned two weeks after he left Duquesne.

All his life, her son, who enjoyed card games and football and had a gentle sense of humor, spoke of a military career, said his mother, Barbara Foster. She last saw Capt. Foster, her only son and her oldest child, last month when he was home for 15 days from Iraq and had the chance to attend a family reunion in St. Louis.

He had been on his second tour of duty in Iraq since November and told his family his job was to go after the insurgents and to find those who made the improvised explosive devices, the homemade bombs used to attack soldiers.

In the Army, Capt. Foster had friends who served around the world and they were all calling yesterday, some from as far away as Korea, said Mrs. Foster. A close friend said that Capt. Foster, a Steelers fan, was eager to serve his country and to make a difference in the world.

"He was one of the finest Armor officers the U.S. Army has produced as evident by his being one of the first Armor officers to be stationed at Fort Bragg," said Capt. John Hartsock.

Capt. Foster received his commission in the Army's Armor Branch in May 2000 and was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, at Fort Hood, Texas, as the Brigade's Plans and Operations Officer's assistant.

He arrived at the 82nd Airborne Division in April 2004 and was assigned to the Division Headquarters as the deputy plans officer. He took command of A Troop, 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, in October.

"Capt. Foster was a respected and proven combat leader whose love for his men supplied him daily with motivation," added Capt. Hartsock. "Capt. Foster was respected by all who knew him, a proven combat leader, a loving son, and a good man."

From 2004 to 2005, Capt. Foster had one previous combat deployment in Iraq with the Third Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment.

His awards and decorations include two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist's Badge and the Ranger Tab.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his father, Robert, and his sister, Abby Foster, both of Franklin Park; and another sister, Elizabeth Werkheiser, of South Kirkwood, Mo.

The unit will hold a memorial service in Iraq. His family is planning a service in Oil City at a future date.

"We'll take him home," said Mrs. Foster.