Gen. Wayne Downing, a frequent NBC News military analyst, has died.

In a message to NBC staffers this morning, Elena Nachmanoff called him “a friend and colleague to many people at NBC News.”

She wrote: “General Downing collapsed at his home in Peoria on Monday and was taken to Proctor Hospital. Doctors discovered he suffered from multiple myeloma and bacterial meningitis. General Downing was surrounded by his family at his death. He is survived by 8 children. A memorial service and funeral will be held in Peoria.”

>Update: In an obituary which aired on MSNBC, Brian Williams called Gen. Downing “a patriot” someone who “was always our travelling partner to Iraq” and, as an NBC News consultant, “secretly happy to be back in the fight.”

>Update: NBC has included some photos on “The Daily Nightly”…