KTVQ -- A soldier from eastern Montana who was killed in Iraq earlier this week was 1 of the authors of a high-profile New York Times editorial critical of the progress being made in the war.

Staff Sgt. Yance T. Gray of Ismay died Monday when the cargo truck he was riding in overturned in Baghdad.

Another co-author, 28-year-old Sergeant Omar Mora, also was killed in the crash.

The Times piece expressed doubts about American gains in Iraq, but also assured they would see the mission through.

Gray was remembered as a strong and friendly leader who loved the Army and dreamed of being a soldier his entire life. He graduated with a class of 18 from Plevna High School and was 1 of 5 students from the class that joined the military.

Karen Gray told the Miles City Star newspaper that she and her husband had last seen their son two years ago, when he graduated from Army Ranger School. She says she did get to talk to him on the phone last Tuesday.