3 victims of Iraq savagery were vets

New York Daily News ^ | 4/02/04 | AP

[kattracks]

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio - Three of the four civilians killed and barbarically mutilated in Iraq were identified yesterday as Army veterans and a former Navy Seal.

Family members and a spokesperson said Thursday that Jerko (Jerry) Zovko, 32, Michael Teague, 38, and Scott Helvenston, 38, died with another civilian Wednesday after they were hit by rocket-propelled grenades in a rebel ambush.

The victims worked for Blackwater Security Consulting, a subsidiary of Blackwater USA based in North Carolina.

Zovko's mother said she and her husband had suspected the worst, and their fears were confirmed yesterday when the president of Blackwater USA knocked on their door. "It was the hardest day of my life," Donna Zovko said in her suburban Cleveland home.

Teague, of Clarksville, Tenn., was a 12-year Army veteran who earned a Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan and also served in Panama and Grenada, his wife, Rhonda, said in a statement. She called her husband a "proud father, soldier and American."

A third victim was identified as Helvenston by a family spokesman who said the family would comment today.

Helvenston lived in Leesburg, Fla., before joining the Navy when he was 17.

The Associated Press

Originally published on April 2, 2004

[MEG33]

My condolences to the families of the murdered men,May God comfort them.

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[leadpenny]

Interesting site: http://www.blackwaterusa.com/

[dennisw]

Prayers for their traumatized families.

[geopyg]

Here's an earlier thread that has some nice photos and condolences to a neighbor of one of these brave men.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1109794/posts

[geopyg]

Post #75 in above thread has photos and bios.

[boxerblues]

Area man killed in Iraq


By: Jenny May and John Arthur Hutchison
Staff Writers
04/02/2004





Jerry Zovko, right, is pictured with his mother, Danica (Donna) Zovko. Jerry was one of four American civilians killed Wednesday in Iraq. /Family photo
Eastlake family mourns loss of one of their own


It was his determination to do what he felt was right, despite what others thought, that made former Euclid and Timberlake resident Jerry Zovko stand out, his younger brother said.
Zovko, a 32-year-old Euclid High School graduate, was one of four civilians killed Wednesday in the town of Fallujah in Iraq.
The deaths made headlines for the brutality surrounding them. After the four Americans were killed in an ambush by insurgents, Iraqis in the unruly town burned and mutilated
the corpses.
Zovko had been in Iraq for about a year, working as a security consultant for Moyock, N.C.-based Blackwater Security Consultants.
Among other jobs in Iraq, members of Blackwater Security help guard L. Paul Bremer, head of the U.S. occupation authority in Iraq.
Zovko served in the Army's 82nd Airborne unit and Rangers from 1991 to 1997, said his brother, Tom Zovko, who lives in Timberlake Village.
Zovko's parents, Jozo (Joe) and Danica (Donna) of Eastlake, did not wish to comment.
Donna Zovko, however, told The Associated Press she and her husband suspected their son was one of the dead late Wednesday evening because he had been working in Iraq.
Their fears were confirmed early Thursday when the president of Blackwater USA knocked on their door and told them their son had died.
"It was the hardest day of my life," Donna Zovko said.
"Jerry was a man with a principle, an idea," his mother said.
"He loved people. He wanted the world to be without borders, for everybody to be free and safe."
Tom said his brother had an independent streak and always followed his dreams.
"He was a great person," Tom said. "He did everything to the highest. He was a truly exceptional person. He did what he wanted, and no one could stop him."
Jerry performed several duties in Iraq, including being a military police officer, a bodyguard and setting up security where it was needed, Tom said.
Tom said although the family had been concerned when Jerry went to Iraq, he insisted on
going because he enjoyed his work.
"He really took it very seriously," Tom said. "He made a career out of it."
Jerry and Tom grew up in Euclid and the family later moved to Timberlake.
Tom said the family is waiting to hear when Jerry's body will be flown home. A funeral service will likely be held at St. Paul Croatian Church in Cleveland, he said.
Timberlake Village Mayor John Roskos extended his sympathy to the family Thursday.
"My condolences go out to the family," Roskos said. "They've got a hard time with it right now. It's a shame."
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, R-Madison Village, spoke with the family Thursday, and expressed his condolences and offered his assistance, said spokeswoman Deborah Setliff.
Out of respect for the family's privacy, LaTourette would not provide any additional details about his conversation, Setliff said.
Gov. Bob Taft said Zovko's service was important to his country.
"Jerry Zovko was performing a very vital role in Iraq," Taft
said.
"His tragic death underscores the fact that the United States must continue to do everything possible to provide stability to
a deeply troubled region and to prevent Iraq from becoming a haven for international terrorism."
Blackwater is one of a number of security firms, many comprised of former special forces troops from the United States
and Britain, that have won contracts with the U.S. occupation authority to provide security services.
The company did not release the names of the four victims.
"We grieve today for the loss of our colleagues, and we pray for their families," according to a statement Thursday posted on the company's Web site.
"The graphic images of the unprovoked attack and subsequent heinous mistreatment of our friends exhibits the extraordinary conditions under which we voluntarily work to bring freedom and democracy to the Iraqi people.
"Coalition forces and civilian contractors and administrators work side by side every day with the Iraqi people to provide essential goods and services like food, water, electricity and vital security to the Iraqi citizens and coalition members. Our tasks are dangerous, and while we feel sadness for our fallen colleagues, we also feel pride and satisfaction that we are making a difference for the people of Iraq."
A memorial fund has been established by Blackwater to support the victim's families.
All memorial gifts will be documented and appropriately acknowledged with due regard to the wishes of the donor and the nature of the contribution, the statement said.
Contributions may be mailed to: Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 159, Moyock, N.C. 27958. Make checks payable to: Memorial Fund.

©The News-Herald 2004


www.news=herald.com

[Las Vegas Dave]

Jerry Zovko R.I.P.

Some of us freepers (including myself) live in Willoughbyohio.com.

[boxerblues]

Rest in Peace.

[wita]

Amen.

[norton]

Not to sound indifferent or unconcerned, but:

People employed in security, in places where security and acceptance of foreign influence are both alien terms, are very apt to be "vets".

Works for Kosovo (bad) as well as for Iraq (good).

Not like many others would consider the job description inviting.

Rest in peace.

DOL

[DollyCali]

Jerry Zovko, Michael Teague, Scott Helvenston

May God comfort your families and may the justice to those who slaughtered you be swift and decisive

[boxerblues]

Dolly have you seen this one yet?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1109794/posts

Fallujah...Be Damned
WESH-TV2 | 04/01/04 | Rapunzel
Posted on 04/01/2004 11:41:35 PM EST by Rapunzel


I have been sickened this evening by learning via the television 11 o'clock news, that the grandson of a dear friend has been murderd in Iraq.


Scott Helvenston, from Florida was one of the four men in the despicable attack. And yes his body was hung over the Eurphrates River. A 12 year Navy Seal veteran and a wonderful person.


Watched this boy grow into a man and it has just about sucker punched me.

[grania]

My prayers are with you and Scott's family for this horrible loss.

[boxerblues]

This is sickening, about the time I think I have my emotions in check. I found out last night that one of the me, Jerry Zovko is from my hometown. God help me Im not a bad person but my thoughts are not good at the moment.