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Sgt. Ryan Patrick Green was described as a patriot who enlisted in the military the day after the Sept. 11 attacks.

But over the weekend, his family in Conroe received the news that every soldier’s family dreads.

The 24-year-old died as a result of injuries he suffered in Iraq.

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Sgt. Ryan Green

His family said that Sgt. Green, who belonged to the Army’s First Cavalry division, was on a combat foot patrol in Baghdad last Thursday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit.

The flag in front of his family home flew at half staff Tuesday, and in the garage was a vintage Camaro, painstakingly restored by his stepfather and a neighbor so that Green could enjoy it during a visit home less than a month ago.

“You know, any time that they lose their lives over there, they’re doing what they think is right,” neighbor Jerry Young said.

“And he thought he was doing what was right because this was his second tour. He re-upped, you know. So he felt that he had a job to do, and that was to serve for the country … So … I gotta respect him for that,” he said.

The family said Green’s leg was amputated in Iraq, but after further surgeries in northern Iraq he stabilized. Unfortunately that situation changed, and he died during transport to a hospital in Germany.

Late this afternoon, his mother, Linda Kagan, issued this written statement about her son:

“My son, Sgt. Ryan Patrick Green, was an incredible gift, and he impacted many lives in his short time with us. He was the light of my life, but such an incredible joy. His greatest gift was his ability to touch those people who came in contact with him—somehow, being wiser than his years could’ve attested to. One Sept. 12, 2001, the day after 9/11, he showed up at my door and expressed his desire to immediately join the armed forces. But he needed my permission to do so … Not because he was too young to join, but because he wanted to make sure that I was OK with that. What he didn’t know was that when I heard about 9/11 (the day of), I knew that was exactly what he was going to do. I was blessed with the insight on that day, that all the guys in service are someone’s son, and that I didn’t have the right to hold him back if this was what he desired. Not once have I ever regretted his decision. My family was brought up believe that it was God, country and family – in that order. The Army made my already terrific son a better son … And over the years I have been proud to be able to step back and look at him with a pride that surpasses anything that I could have ever imagined. God Bless America and our fine people who volunteer so proudly to serve her.”

Sgt. Green was the 70^th serviceperson from the area to give his life fighting the War on Terror.