MEDIA RELEASE

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has ordered all national and Hawaii flags at all State offices and agencies as well as the Hawaii National Guard are to be flown at half-staff Thursday, May 10, 2012 in memory of Chief Warrant Officer Two Don C. Viray.

Army helicopter pilot Viray was killed April 19, 2012 in a helicopter crash in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. He and three other Hawaii-based servicemen died in the crash.

Viray was assigned to A Company 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.

Viray, 25, grew up in Waipahu where he attended Waipahu High School, before graduating from Roosevelt High School. He was active in ROTC and was enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard before joining the U.S. Army.

A memorial service is planned Thursday, May 10 at Borthwick Mortuary. Viray will be laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

“We honor Chief Officer Two Viray and all of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice as a result of their duty to the nation and fellow soldiers,” Abercrombie said. “My deepest sympathies go out to CW2 Viray’s family and friends.”