BILLINGS - The community said good-bye to a local hero Saturday, as hundreds gathered on the Yellowstone County Courthouse lawn to pay final respects to Captain Andrew Pearson.

"On April 30th, the door of my house was opened to Chaplain McManus and Captain Greevy-even before I saw the expression on their faces, I knew," said father Ron Pearson.

As a West Point grad, husband and father of four, Ron Pearson said his son was living a lifelong dream. "He didn't want to be on the battleground as a hero-he wanted to lead his soldiers. He had a mission. Soldier, father, brother, proud American."

Pearson lost his life about a week and a half ago in a roadside explosion in Baghdad. "Captain Pearson was a soldier and a warrior," said Major General Randy Mosley. And as a community mourns, Mosley reminded the crowd of the army's warrior code. "I am an American soldier," he said. "I am a warrior, and a member of the team. I serve the people of the United States of America and live the Army values. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American soldier."

A decorated soldier, Captain Pearson joined the military in 1998. He was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas with his wife and young children. Captain Pearson will be laid to rest in ten days at Arlington National Cemetery.