Pilot from Fort Liberty remains unconscious after Iran drone attack on Christmas Day

An 82nd Airborne pilot badly injured in a drone strike in Iraq on Christmas Day remains unconscious but is in stable condition, loved ones tell WRAL News.

Garrett Illerbrunn is stationed out of Fort Liberty. He lives in Pinehurst with his wife, Lorna, and son, Tucker.

On Christmas Day, he was serving at Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq when the base came under attack. A close family friend told WRAL News that Illerbrunn has a severe head injury.

In the most recent update on his condition, loved ones told WRAL News Illerbrunn, while unconscious, has some arm movement.

Illerbrunn was airlifted to Germany's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the military’s largest hospital overseas, on Dec. 26.

Weather-permitting, the pilot will be transported Friday to Walter Reed National Medical Center in Maryland for continued recovery, a close family friend said.

"We're basically just going off of prayers and positive energy at this point that he can get reunited with his son, be there to raise him, be there with his wife," said Clio Carroll, a friend of Illerbrunn's wife.

The family has a GoFundMe campaign set up to build the tree house llerbrunn planned for Tucker and to help outfit their home with the proper supports he will need when he comes home.

"They're wonderful people, so if all you can do is pray, we appreciate that," Carroll said. "Anything you can give on the GoFundMe would help them."

The two other service members wounded in the drone attack suffered more minor injuries.

The Iran-backed attack that critically injured Illerbrunn and two other servicemen prompted President Joe Biden to order retaliatory strikes, targeting affiliated groups.

Illerbrunn has been with the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade since Sept. 2021.