"On his last day in the country he gave his life for, Tyler was working on his RV-8 at the EAA hangar. He spoke to (chapter member) Vance Simons, who had become a friend since he is also building an airplane in the hangar and they saw each other often. Tyler said his goal had been to finish refurbishing his RV-8 before deployment, but duty called, and he would be leaving the next day. Vance said, 'Well, at least you're leaving for a good cause - to fight for your country.' They agreed, wished each other good luck, and Tyler said he would see Vance in two months."
Source: Chapter member Marian Heale wrote this in the May edition of The EAA Chapter 79 Newsletter, after the death of chapter member and United States Air Force Capt. Tyler