Michael L Selves

Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army, retired - and from 1996 the civilian director of the Army's information management support center at the Pentagon.

His office was on the first floor of the E ring, at the point where the aircraft struck first. Near his desk were photographs of the lakes and mountains around Pendleton, where he came from. He took his degree at Oregon and was an ardent supporter of the Ducks.

Over twenty years in the Army he served in South Korea and in Italy. He and his wife Gayle - both keen golfers, married six years before at a golf club in Centreville - were counting the days to his retirement and a move to Hilton Head. They had friends there and had been looking at houses.

He was as good with a joke as with a putter, and made friends everywhere. Most of the people who worked for him and were moved on went unwillingly. He knew how to liven up a dull meeting: a colleague remembered him at a seminar two years before, slowly stripping down to his undershirt and a bathing costume while he talked.

His wife said: all of the people he worked with were just devastated, because he was really loved. His sense of humour is probably what made him so special to everyone. He could make just about anyone laugh.

His wife Gayle.