Rest in peace to James and the rest of the Americans killed in this tragic incident in Kabul. This has been a bad couple of weeks for MPRI and with the loss of Paul Almryde and James, these deaths tragically mark the beginning of the spring fighting season.
I would also like to remind the reader that the sacrifice of contractors in Afghanistan has been steep. Here are the latest figures from wikipedia, which also draws from the DoL.
The U.S. Department of Labor confirmed that by March 31, 2011, a total of 763 civilian contractors were killed in Afghanistan. Of which, during the period between June 2009 and April 2010, 260 were private security contractors or PMCs.
If you look up in the Contractor Casualty Statistics box here on the blog, I try to keep everything close to current. But obviously these latest deaths have added to this unfortunate list in Afghanistan. To all friends and family members of fallen contractors, the sacrifices of these heroes will not be forgotten. My heart also goes out to the military men and women who have also given the ultimate sacrifice and last pound of flesh in this war. Semper fi. –Matt
James McLaughlin
James McLaughlin of Santa Rosa dead in Afghan war
Henry K. Lee
Friday, April 29, 2011
Civilian contractor James McLaughlin of Santa Rosa was killed with eight troops.
Sandy McLaughlin of Santa Rosa used Skype twice a day to talk to her husband while the retired Army veteran worked as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan. Seeing his wife over the video phone was the highlight of his day.
On Tuesday night, James McLaughlin Jr., 55, gave his wife his usual send-off: “OK, I gotta go. I love you. Bye-bye.”
Hours later, James McLaughlin was dead, one of nine Americans shot and killed at a military compound near the Kabul airport by a veteran Afghan military pilot. (more…)