An Army colonel with family ties to Oklahoma was one of 12 soldiers killed Saturday in Iraq when their helicopter crashed at Baghdad.

According to the Department of Defense, Col. Brian D. Allgood, 46, was assigned to the 30th Medical Brigade, European Regional Medical Command, Heidelberg, Germany.

Lawton surgeon Richard Allgood said a missile hit the Black Hawk helicopter his nephew was riding in.

Allgood said he will always remember his nephew as fun and energetic, an outdoorsman with a fondness for athletics.

"It was probably his interest in athletics that led him into orthopedic medicine," his uncle said.

Richard Allgood said his nephew was an avid University of Oklahoma sports fan.

The last time he was with his nephew, he said, was at the 2004 Sugar Bowl game between OU and Louisiana State University.

"We had a great time together until we lost" the game, Richard Allgood said.

He said his nephew came from a military family.

Richard Allgood said he rose to the rank of major in the Army and served in Vietnam.

Also serving in Vietnam was Gerald Allgood, his nephew's father, now living in Colorado Springs, Colo., with his wife, Cleo.

Gerald Allgood is a retired Army colonel.

Richard Allgood said another brother, Ron Allgood, is a retired Air Force colonel now living in Altus.