A former Chattanooga resident who died while serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq will be laid to rest this weekend in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

U.S. Army Capt. Darrick Wright, 37, died of noncombat-related cardiac arrest Sept. 17 in Baghdad, said Capt. Peter Moore, a casualty officer out of Fort Campbell, Ky., who is assisting Capt. Wright’s family.

Capt. Wright was with the 926th Engineer Brigade at the time of his death, Capt. Moore said. The brigade is headquartered in Montgomery, Ala.

He coordinated reconstruction efforts in Baghdad’s Sadr City, according to an online memorial site, and he earned the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

Capt. Wright is survived by his wife, the former Katina Nicole Baker-Zacher. She is expecting the couple’s first child, son Trevor Allen, in November. Neither Mrs. Wright nor his parents, Roy and Gloria Wright, of Tullahoma, Tenn., could be reached Thursday.

He was a reserve soldier whose civilian job was as an analyst in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s customer resources department in Nashville, according to a statement released by TVA spokesman Gil Francis. He is believed to be TVA’s first loss in the Iraq war, Mr. Francis said.

Capt. Wright was a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering, his memorial site states.

He is remembered fondly by many, according to his memorial site: “Those who knew and loved him will always remember his constant smile, caring attention, encouraging words and strong Christian belief.”

After a 10 a.m. visitation period Saturday morning, Capt. Wright’s funeral service will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist on Highway 153. Burial will follow in the national cemetery on Bailey Avenue.

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