AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ Officials say the cause of death of Lt. Col. Michael J. Backus on Monday remains under investigation. The 44-year-old West Point graduate was performing regular duties at Camp Keyes in Augusta when he died.
The Morning Sentinel said Backus attended flight school after leaving West Point, training and serving as an Apache attack helicopter pilot. He qualified as a Blackhawk pilot with the Maine National Guard and deployed to Iraq in 2003 with the 112th Medical Company.
Backus served in a number of leadership positions in Maine. Maj. Michael Steinbuchel, spokesman for the guard, said Backus' death was a shock.
Backus lived in the town of Wilton, he was a 1986 graduate of Mt. Blue High School.
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