ENTERPRISE, Ala. (WDHN) — Former Enterprise Principal Rick Rainer was Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dwyer’s principal for his three years at Enterprise High School.

“Stephen’s a kid that you remember because of the good things he did,” Rainer said.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dwyer and four other U.S. soldiers stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky were killed after their military helicopter crashed off of the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, November 10.

Pentagon officials say the MH 60 was carrying ‘special operations forces’ when it went down late Friday in the eastern Mediterranean ‘due to a mishap’ while carrying out a ‘routine air refueling mission’ during training.

“Our collective hearts in this community go out to his family,” says Rainer.

During his time in high school, Dwyer was a member of the school’s JROTC Program.

Then after graduation, he had aspirations to be in the military, where he went to the military academy in West Point, New York, just like his parents did before him.

Then after serving in the army he ended his commission and went to flight training at Fort Novosel to fly helicopters.

Dwyer was 38 when he passed away late last week and leaves behind a wife and 3 kids.

“I can tell you this,” Rainer said. “They can be proud of their daddy and we pray for them and will pray for them, support them, and be proud of him and his achievements always,” says Rainer.

Rainer was also the principal during the deadly Enterprise tornado that destroyed the high school and killed eight students.

He says that anytime a tragedy strikes the City of Progress, the community comes together and wraps its arms around the impacted family.

“And it will always do that and it will continue to do that. I know the Dwyer family can I hope feel our presence and our support during this time,” Rainer said. “Steven is a Wildcat and he always will be.”

The deadly crash in the Mediterranean is being investigated by a team from the Combat Readiness Center at Fort Novosel.

Stay with WDHN News as we bring you the latest developments on that investigation.