Clayton Barnes called his wife Monday to tell her to wait for the sound of the engine: He planned to swoop over his home in Payson in an AH-64 Apache helicopter.

"He liked to fly over because the kids got excited," Melinda Barnes said. "We would go out and wave."

But Melinda Barnes didn't hear the whir of the helicopter blades Monday, and Clayton Barnes never came home.

The helicopter he was flying crashed east of Fairfield, killing him and fellow Utah National Guard pilot James Linder of West Jordan. The crash is still under investigation.

Melinda Barnes was pale but collected Wednesday as she spoke with military representatives about the accident. She even laughed a little when they told her Clayton Barnes, who loved to drive fast and squeal his tires, "flew much better than he drove."

She described her husband, 30, as "adoring" and "tender" — the kind of optimist who never stops smiling.

Clayton Barnes had two main passions in life, she said: flying and family. He had three children, ages 2,4 and 6, and his wife is expecting another in November.

"Everything he did was for me and the kids," she said. "He always told me, 'If you're happy, I'm happy."'

Family and friends of Linder echoed those comments Wednesday as they gathered outside his West Jordan home, where streets were lined with American flags.

Two of Linder's brothers-in-law remembered their sister Melinda's husband as someone who lived life to the fullest.

"James was one of those phenomenal, rare people," said Russ Johnson.

Linder, 33, was an Arizona native but grew up in Sandy and graduated from Brighton High School in 1992. He later graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in mechanical engineering. He had a brief career as an engineer, designing prosthetic arms and legs.

But the boy who loved building model aircraft wanted more.

In 1999 he joined the Utah Guard and eventually became an instructor pilot, working full time for the Guard.

"It was his dream to fly — he chased his dream and got it," Johnson said.

Linder and his wife, Melinda, had three boys, ages 6, 9 and 11.

"He was one of those dads everyone takes notes on," Johnson said. "He always had time for his kids."

Johnson's brother, Mitch, called Linder a man without faults and an "excellent" husband.

"The world is going to be a lesser place without him," Mitch Johnson said. "His smile would light up a room."

As well-wishers stopped by Linder's home Wednesday, his wife was not ready to speak with media. People were asked to leave notes for the family just outside of the house.

One of those people was Richard DeWolf, a retired command sergeant major who worked with Linder in the Utah Guard.

"He loved his country," DeWolf said. "You could count on him for anything."

Honesty and integrity, he added, best described the Linder he knew.

As a next door neighbor for 10 years, Rhonda Hancock remembered Linder as a generous man and someone with a "great aura" and "the kind of neighbor you would want to have."

As guardsmen, both Linder and Barnes rose to the rank of chief warrant officer, each earning numerous awards. Both served together in Afghanistan in 2004-05 with 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation.

The Monday flight was Clayton Barnes' last scheduled training mission, said David Jungheim, his company commander. He was planning to begin dental school at the University of Utah Tuesday and was transferring to a Guard dental unit.

"He had more than one last flight, though," Jungheim said. "He loved flying. When he was in the air, he was in his element."

Jungheim refers to Clayton Barnes as "Buddha," a call name he inherited from his father who flew Huey and Cobra helicopters during the Vietnam War. "He was the kind of guy who was compatible with everyone," he said. "He had an infectious positive attitude."

Jungheim said Clayton Barnes often went out of his way to show he cared for his comrades. In Afghanistan, when fellow-pilot Linder went home on leave, Clayton Barnes turned all of his family photographs upside down to show him he was missed.

"There were hundreds of photos," he said. "It took Linder weeks to get them back in their right places."

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Donations to funds set up for both families can be made at any Zions Bank location in the name of either Clayton Barnes or James Linder.

Funeral services for Linder will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at the Prairie 2nd Ward, 7400 S. 4800 West in West Jordan. Linder will be buried at 5 p.m. the following day at the Parowan Cemetery in Parowan.

A funeral for Barnes will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Payson Stake Center, 800 S. 600 West in Payson. Burial will follow at the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 N. 800 East in Orem.


E-mail: estuart@desnews.com; sspeckman@desnews.com

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