He's being described as a patriot who served his country with pride. The family of Cpl. Brendan Downey has released a statement after the death of the Saskatchewan-based soldier overseas.

It was news he greeted with great joy, according to his family. Cpl. Downey and his wife Vanessa, also in the forces, were expecting their second child. Downey won't see his unborn child, or his two year old son Adam grow up. He was found dead early Friday in his quarters at a desert base that provides support to the Afghan mission.

Downey was born in Montreal, his parents and siblings are in Toronto; but his home base was the military police unit at the Dundurn detachment south of Saskatoon.

In the statement, Downey's family says he joined the forces in response to the September 11th attacks.

The death has been ruled non-combat related, as investigators try to find out just what happened.

(Photo: Canadian Forces)