Pfc. Dillon M. Jutras of Fairfax Station, Virginia wanted to follow the path of his father, Army Maj. Pierre D. Jutras. So his parents said it was no surprise when Dillon, the kid who used to dress up in his father's uniform and joined the Junior ROTC in high school announced that college wasn't for him and joined the Army. He was born at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center near Fort Bragg, where his father was stationed at the time. Through the years, he moved with his family as his father took assignments at Fort Campbell, Ky., Fort Benning and finally Fort Belvoir. His family, close-knit through its travels from Army base to Army base over the years, recalled his kindness and quiet nature yesterday. He had two younger brothers, Dustin and Hunter, and his parents said he was especially close to his older sister, Heather, an Army ROTC cadet at George Mason University. His family moved to Virginia the summer before Jutras entered 11th grade. He attended Thomas A. Edison High School in Fairfax County, where he played soccer and participated in the Junior ROTC, just as he had at Hoke County High School in Raeford, N.C. He also played soccer with the Gunston Soccer Club, a local team. He was athletic, placing 49th out of 643 runners two years ago in the Goblin Gallop 5K race in Fairfax, according to results of the race on a Web site. He was in excellent physical condition, and that physical prowess enabled him to join the elite Army Rangers. He decided to become a Ranger while at George Mason University, where he was in the Senior ROTC program. He told his family that he would rather join the Army than continue studying systems engineering. He decided that wasn't the route he wanted to take. He was a music fan, as well. He knew the names and titles to most '80s classic rock music and loved to play them while driving his loud '86 Dodge pickup. And he knew the words to every song. It always amazed others that he could pick up a song. He knew the words to 'What a Wonderful World.' As an Army Ranger, Dillon had received several military commendations, including a parachutist badge and an Army Service Ribbon. He has been recommended for the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and an Army Commendation Medal, according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He was posthumously recommended for the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device, Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal. He was 20.

Army
3rd Battalion
75th Ranger Regiment
Fort Benning, Georgia