Chapter 310

I opened the e-mails and started reading. Albert Koons, 40, married, wife Linda and 2 kids, both girls, Mindy age 8, Caroline 12. The family lived in Lancaster PA. They had a mortgage, a car payment and credit card debt like most families. According to Jeanna there was one life insurance policy for $75,000, not enough to pay off the house or the debts. There was the JBG life policy that we carried over from Black Water for $275,000

Albert had spent 15 years in the army before joining Black Water. He had good records from the army and good evaluations from Black Water. They were members of the Lancaster Methodist Church.

Phil Adams had a similar life history with a few exceptions. He was orphaned at an early age and had been an only child. There was no record of any living family. Like Albert he had joined the Army and went to war in the first Desert Storm and had done a couple tours in Afghanistan before joining Black Water. The beneficiary on the $275,000 company life insurance was the Army's Children's College Fund, a fund to help children of those killed in action attend college.

First I called Amy at the State Department, "Has anyone notified the families yet?" I asked it was now two in the afternoon on the Eastern Shore.

"No; no one has been notified yet. There has been no detailed information released to the media yet either, a press briefing is scheduled before tonight's 6PM news cycle. The media is pushing hard for information," she replied.

"It is not looking like the bodies will be flown out for another day at least," Amy added.

"I am sending representatives to Albert Koons house. I want them to hear the news from us, not a news person knocking on the door," I said.

I called the office; it was two in the afternoon on the shore. On a conference call I decided to send Ching Lee and Lisa to Lancaster. Marcy and Lorrie needed to stay in the office and there was no way Jenny needed to go there and be under that stress. Lisa knew her way around Lancaster like the back of her hand; she had every antique shop etched in her memory and she was compassionate, understanding and caring.

Lisa had volunteered almost before I finished.

"Take clothes for a week - you need to be there as soon as you can get there. Call the Lancaster Methodist Church, talk directly to the Pastor and ask him if the Albert Koons family is members of his church. If they are, tell him there is an emergency and you need his assistance as soon as you arrive there," I said.

"As it stands, it is going to be a couple of days before the bodies will leave Morocco and I assume to Dover AFB. With Phil Adams we will most likely have to work with the VA to have him at buried at the Veterans Cemetery in Preston, unless some family comes forward," I replied.

Four hours later I received an e-mail.

"BJ; Lisa and I met Pastor Timothy Bounds at the church at 4PM. We explained the tragedy and our desire to inform the family before the news broke the story. Pastor Bounds led us to the Koons house. BJ that was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Linda turned into a basket case, it was bad. I am really glad we had Pastor Bounds with us; he was a miracle worker. I hope I never have to do something like this again."

"Pastor Bounds and we are going to stay for a couple more hours then return in the morning. We have a room at Holiday North Motel. Let us know as soon as you get any information." Love C Lee.

My heart ached for the family and Ching Lee. I had seen and been involved with so much death - so many places - my emotions were hardened to its effects.

Morning came quickly after a troubled night of sleep. We were up early and enjoyed a good American breakfast by the ambassador's personal chef. I wondered how they got the bacon in a land that considered pork the kiss of death. Then the ride back to our jet past yesterday's attack. The bodies were gone, the fence repaired, all the vehicles gone, the only things left were the carcasses of the three jetliners.