BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Cpl. Pruitt A. Rainey, who attended Campbell University and served on the Fighting Camel wrestling team during the 2004-05 academic year, was among the nine American soldiers killed Sunday, July 13 near the Pakistani border of Afghanistan.

"He was a great young man with a heart of gold," said Campbell head coach Billy Greene, who coached Rainey during his first year at the helm of the Camels. "His teammates were his biggest concern, and he offered so much of himself to those around him."

The Haw River, N.C. native, stationed at the small, U.S.-led outpost in northeastern Afghanistan along with 44 other Americans and 25 Afghan troops as part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force, suffered the assault before dawn, attacked by nearly 200 Taliban insurgents according to the Greensboro News & Record.

Also killed were 1st Lt. Jonathan P. Brostrom, Sgt. Israel Garcia, Cpl. Jonathan R. Ayers, Cpl. Jason D. Hovater, Cpl. Jason M. Bogar, Cpl. Matthew B. Phillips, Cpl. Gunnar W. Zwilling and Pfc. Sergio S. Abad.

The battle has been described as one of the fiercest in Afghanistan since the Taliban fell in 2001. The 22-year-old Rainey had spent roughly a year and a half in Afghanistan, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd. Infantry Regiment, and 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

Rainey won his first career match at as a Camel in the 2004 UNC Pembroke Open, Campbell's second event of the ‘04-05 season. The heavyweight earned a 3-1 victory over Tavian Daniels of Newberry, that coming on Nov. 12.

A graduate of Graham High School in 2004, Rainey also wrestled, serving as team captain as a sophomore, junior and senior while compiling a 103-20 record over four seasons, earning all-conference accolades and team Outstanding Wrestler of the Year honors three times, finishing his senior year with a 30-5 mark. Rainey also lettered in football, as well as indoor and outdoor track & field.

While in Buies Creek, Rainey majored in physical education and teacher education, and had plans to become a teacher.

"Pruitt was a peacemaker and a very caring, loyal soul, and that was evident in his actions," added Greene. "He had a way of disarming a situation with his sense of humor and good nature, even when things weren't going the best. His loyalty ran deep for the wrestling program and his teammates. He loved being part of the team, and I think he found that same esprit de corps as a soldier in the military. He's going to be sorely missed by his wrestling family."

Funeral arrangements have been made for Rainey, with the visitation on Tuesday, July 22, from 6-9 p.m. at Glen Hope Baptist Church, located at 911 North Avenue in Burlington, N.C. The funeral will be held on Wednesday at Glen Hope, with services starting at 2 p.m.