The Pentagon says an Arlington soldier was one of four killed in Kandahar City, Afghanistan when their vehicle met an IED and small arms fire.

Forty-one-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Jim Walton was assigned to a Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. He died Saturday when a roadside bomb hit a coalition convoy, the Department of Defense (web) says.

"Just a really positive spirit," Walton's neighbor Alexis Scudder said. In fact, Walton is on an Albany, New York radio station's website in a section that spotlights American heroes. » link: American hero spotlight

On May 27th, he sent pictures to the site and wrote about life in Afghanistan, his passion for mentoring, his observations of the enemy and efforts to get his men more supplies like Gatorade. In one note, Walton wrote, "I just hope you realize how special your Soldiers are. I get to see it every day, and consider myself fortunate to serve with them."

"When people describe Jim, that were in the military, they talked about how he never thought about rank. It was taking care of any rank of soldier no matter what," Scudder said.

She said Walton was beloved in his neighborhood because he never hesitated to lend a helping hand in Arlington or in Afghanistan. "America has lost a hero and a patriot."

Walton was an aviation officer, having entered the army in May 1989. He started serving with the 1st Infantry Division in October 2007. It was his second deployment in support of the global war on terror, Fort Riley officials said.

One soldier who wrote about Walton said, "He is a great leader and an even better friend.