UConn graduate is killed in Iraq

After graduating from the University of Connecticut with honors, Keith N. Heidtman had many opportunities.

But it was a time of war, and he felt that he had to do his part, relatives said, so, as did his grandparents in World War II, he joined the US Army.

On Monday, five months after deploying to a base in Tikrit, the 24-year-old first lieutenant from Norwich, Conn., died when the OH-58D Kiowa helicopter he was piloting came under heavy fire and crashed.

One soldier also died in the crash, and six servicemen who attempted to rescue the crash victims were killed by enemy fire.

By May 30, 3,459 US servicemen have died in Iraq, according to the Pentagon.

"We were totally against him joining the military, but it was something he always wanted to do, and we supported him," said Arthur Robidoux, his stepfather. "I think he had more maturity than I had, and I'm twice his age. He was very mature, very goal-oriented. He was well loved and well respected by a lot of people."

Born and raised in Norwich, Heidtman graduated from the Norwich Free Academy, where he was a first baseman on the baseball team and a guard on the basketball team in 2001, his parents said.

He studied resource economics at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, they said.

As a college junior in 2004, Heidtman enlisted in the campus ROTC program. When he graduated the following year, he went to boot camp and then the US Army Aviation Warfighting Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., where he learned to be a helicopter pilot.

Relatives said he was motivated to join the Army, in part, by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"He wanted to serve his country and make a difference," said Jeffrey Cassis, his uncle. "I'm really proud of him, but it's also quite a tragedy. He had a whole life ahead of him. I really miss him."

Heidtman was assigned to the Second Squadron, Sixth Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, based at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.

In addition to his stepfather, he leaves his mother, Maureen Robidoux and his father, Kerry Heidtman, both of Norwich; an older sister, Keely Heidtman of Boston; and Meghan Lenehan of New York City, his girlfriend for the past seven years.

He had been scheduled to return home in July, but as for many soldiers in Iraq, the date had been moved back to September and then to October.