And to provide some balance to the perception of what the media tries to present, here is the widow of a deceased Blackwater employee and her heartfelt plea for understanding. Art was killed while trying to protect employees of the US government in Iraq. His helicopter was shot down, and he is no less the hero because he was a ‘civilian pilot working for Blackwater’. Not to mention Art’s service in the military as a pilot during the war. Why is Art less of a patriot or not worthy of our respect, just because he worked for Blackwater and was killed in the line of duty? Rest in peace Art, and my heart goes out to Marybeth. –Head Jundi
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My Husband Was a Blackwater Hero
By Marybeth Laguna
Sunday, November 30, 2008; B03
My husband, Art Laguna, was a hero. He was a man of honor — he kept his word and he valued truth and honesty, and he expected no less from anyone else. His life was spent in service to his country and his family.
Here at home, Art served as a sheriff’s reserve deputy. He was a volunteer helicopter pilot and flew medical evacuation missions with the California National Guard out of Sacramento ‘s Mather Field. He was the father of four and grandfather of six.
Art was proud of his three-decade career with the U.S. Army and the National Guard. He served in Iraq three times and he deployed once to Bosnia. In 1998, he was awarded a medal of valor from the California Department of Corrections for piloting a National Guard helicopter that helped save a California man who’d been stranded by floodwaters on the roof of his car. And last June, the military awarded him the Legion of Merit for exceptional conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. I accepted this most recent honor on his behalf.