Marine-turned-contractor killed in Iraq

Marine-turned-contractor killed in Iraq
The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Mar 7, 2009 17:48:35 EST

RIVERVIEW, Mich. — The mother of a civilian contractor from Riverview said Saturday that he has been killed in Iraq.

Patricia Salser told The Associated Press that 25-year-old Justin Pope died after being shot Wednesday. Detroit-area television station WJBK said Pope had served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and was assigned to protect U.S. diplomats in Kirkuk when he was killed by sniper fire.

Pope was employed by Falls Church, Va.-based DynCorp International. Messages seeking comment were left with a company spokesman Saturday. The U.S. military does not keep a count of civilian deaths in Iraq, but the AP says 1,264 civilian employees of U.S. government contractors had died through Sept. 30, 2008.

Pope graduated from Riverview High School in 2002 and joined the Marines immediately afterward, Salser said. Survivors include his wife and a 7-year-old son.

Salser said a candlelight vigil was held Friday night at the family home 10 miles south of Detroit. Riverview police officers and firefighters were among the more than 100 people who attended, WJBK said.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_iraq_contractor_030709/%2e