These guards might have been from poor families, seeking a future for their children -- the Ugandans both left behind children, not sure about the Peruvian. They might as well have been from wealthier communities, simply seeking fortune and adventure.
These three, out of thousands serving in Iraq, were all felled by a single lucky shot from a random rocket. The evening memorial service was largely led by the Ugandan community, which had formed a religious choral group singing traditional call-and-response in both English and Swahili. A Peruvian chaplain translated. Three helmets atop wooden crosses, boots and ID badges neatly lined up in front.
The dining facility where the service was held was packed, maybe 400 people, and some were turned away. There was a box at the door collecting donations for the families, which raised $8000 in addition to what would be received from the employer.
