Scott D Sather

Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather was a quiet professional, a special operations combat controller who liked to be the “do” man. Assigned to a special forces unit, he was trained to set up special runways.

“He’d basically go out, take care of matters,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Bain. “Even if he wasn’t asked to do it, he would just go out and do it anyway, just to make sure things got done.”

Sather, 29, of Clio, Mich., was killed in combat April 8.

He was a 1991 graduate of Clio High School, where he played football and baseball. Sather was married in July 2002, and often talked about his plans to build a home, Bain said. In his free time he enjoyed riding and working on his motorcycle.

“He was well-loved in the community,” said his uncle,...