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KAYSVILLE — A Utah military family will bury a son later this week.
Staff Sgt. David Lyon, 32, of Kaysville was a Marine Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) bomb tech who lost both legs while doing his job in Afghanistan four years ago. His parents said he battled his way back from the explosion to lead an active and inspiring life. That's why they were stunned when he died after long-term complications last week.
"He was cheerful, and he was strong," said his mother, Lynette Lyon.
American flags line the street and in front of Gordon and Lynette Lyon's home in Syracuse. As they shared photos of their son playing with their grandson, they talked about what the Marine Corps meant to him.
"It was a very big deal," Lynette said. "He planned to only do that. That was what his life was about."
As an EOD bomb tech, David was one of the Marines who put himself in harm's way to detonate bombs so they wouldn't hurt anyone else. He deployed five times to combat zones, including two each to Afghanistan and Iraq.
He said, 'They have freedoms that they never would have had before.' He was very proud of that. He said, 'I would do it again in a heartbeat.'
–Gordon Lyon, David Lyon's father
In May 2010, he led his unit to a dangerous pathway that needed to be cleared. His father said David was defusing one bomb when another bomb went off that severed the leg of one of his men. David rushed to tend to that Marine's wounds before returning to finish the rest of the job. But before he could do that, he also stepped on a bomb.
Lyon's parents feared he would die, but doctors stabilized him and returned him to the United States.
"There was just no slowing him down," Gordon said. "As soon as he could do anything, he would do it."
Gordon said David endured surgery at least every other day for months. Once he had his prosthetic legs he resumed running, rock climbing and kayaking.
David talked positively with his father about the work the Marines had done to help the people of Afghanistan and Iraq.
"He said, 'They have freedoms that they never would have had before.' He was very proud of that. He said, 'I would do it again in a heartbeat.' "
His parents were stunned when David was hospitalized again last week in San Diego. The family had time to gather around David before he died from heart complications and a stroke related to his previous injuries.
His father served in the Navy, and his brothers have served in the Marines, the Air Force and the Utah National Guard.
Gordon said he aspires to live like his son in the way that he gave of himself.
"His whole life was helping somebody else," his father said.
"It gave him joy and purpose," his mother said.
