Reno Gazette Journal -- A U.S. soldier who grew up in Carson City and Fernley was among three military police officers killed Tuesday in Iraq when their convoy was attacked, his mother said Thursday.

Pfc. Thomas F. Lyons, 20, was in a convoy in Baji, Iraq, when the truck was hit with a kind of bomb that becomes a projectile when detonated, said Jeanna Flint of Fernley.

"It was quick, fast, sudden. No pain," Flint said.

Lyons and his colleagues were serving north of Baghdad and assigned to the 545th Military Police Co. of the Arctic Military Police Battalion based at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

His wife, Delvin, also is an active-duty soldier stationed there and gave birth to the couple's first son in May.

Fernley roots

Lyons attended Fernley High School and obtained his GED diploma in Reno before joining the Army on Nov. 23, 2007, his mother said. He had several siblings, including a twin sister.

"His brother-in-law had enlisted and encouraged him," Flint said.

He tried several sports, including wrestling and football, at Fernley High School and played soccer before high school.

"He was just trying to find his niche," Flint said. "And I think he found it as an M.P. He wanted to be a police officer. He finally had a goal in his life."

It's not clear if he would have come back to Nevada to be a police officer after he finished his military service, gone to Georgia, where his wife grew up, or if they would have picked some place in between, she said.

Flint said her son respected people.

"One person told me the girls liked him because he didn't try anything with them," Flint said. "He was just friends with them, and they had a good time."

Lyons' body will arrive Monday in Nevada. Flint said she is finalizing funeral arrangements.

Also killed in the attack were Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith, 31, of Marion, Ohio; and Pfc. Zaachery T. Myers, 21, of Delaware, Ohio.

Families have been notified.

A ceremony of prayer and remembrance will be scheduled at Fort Richardson.

Lyons arrived in Alaska in May 2008. He and the others were deployed to Iraq in May.

The deaths were the first for the company and among 22 this year for U.S. Army Alaska, officials said.

==Another news story==

The Associated Press -- In the last years of his life, Thomas F. Lyons grew from a rebellious teen who once made off with his family’s car and wrecked it to a “good man” who was happy to be a father, his best friend said.

“He chose to go to Iraq,” Michael Coughlin said. “He didn’t go for blood or glory. He went to protect his family and freedom.”

Lyons, 20, of Fernley, Nev., died Sept. 8 when the vehicle he was in was attacked with an explosive device in Baji, Iraq. Three others also were killed. All four were based at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

John Flint said his stepson was kind and giving, and sometimes unaware of his talents.

“He loved life and people,” Flint said.

Lyons grew up in a large family and he liked sports. He wanted to become a police officer when he returned from Iraq.

Earlier this year in Alaska, Lyons married his wife, Delvin, a military police officer. The couple’s son, Erik, was born in May.

Lyons was deployed to Iraq in July. He was posthumously promoted from private first class to specialist.

“His sacrifice will not be forgotten by both his country and his community,” Coughlin said.