The units of all the national military garrisons are flying the flags at half-mast in memory of lieutenant major Ivan Ciobănica, who died in the line of duty on July 3, IPN reports.

The Ministry of Defense said the service member wanted to help soldiers to stop an armored vehicle under repair, whose brakes malfunctioned. As a result, he was crushed between two military vehicles. He was rushed to the hospital, but didn’t survive.

It will be suggested that for his deed, Ivan Ciobănica should be awarded the National Army’s medal “Manhood and Courage” posthumously. “We lost a service member, a hero! He passed away too swiftly, unexpectedly swiftly…Even if this does not change the situation, I will propose that our hero should be awarded a state medal posthumously,” Minister of Defense Alexandru Pînzari posted on Facebook.

Lieutenant major Ivan Ciobănica served as the commander of a military police company at the Guard Battalion. He was 26.

The service member will be buried in his native village Dizghigea of Comrat district on July 5.