Ohio native among 7 slain CIA workers
1/4/2010COLUMBUS, Ohio - A former Navy Seal and Ohio native whose wife is expecting the couple's first child were among seven CIA employees killed in a suicide bombing on an agency base in southeastern Afghanistan last week.
Scott Michael Roberson, 39, was working as a security officer for the CIA when Tuesday's blast rocked the outpost in Khost province, said his sister, Amy Messner of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
The government notified his wife Wednesday of his death, Ms. Messner said, and the CIA has allowed them to make his death public.
Before joining the CIA, Mr. Roberson had worked undercover in narcotics for the Atlanta police. He also served with U.N. security forces in Kosovo and did several tours of duty in Iraq, where he provided protection to high-risk officials.
"He always said that if something happened to him, he would have no regrets," his sister said. "He was so proud of what he was doing."
Mr. Roberson had hoped to return to the United States for the birth of his first child in February, his sister said. "As hard as all of this is, at least we are able to let the world know what an amazing person Scott was," Ms. Messner said. "I can't imagine how hard it would be for those families to not be able to share that."
Mr. Roberson is survived by his wife, Molly, of Knoxville, Tenn.; his parents, and sister. A memorial service is planned for Saturday in Akron.
Jeremy Jason Wise, 35, was also killed in the attack, a memorial page on Facebook said.
Mr. Wise, a former Navy Seal, lived in Virginia Beach with his wife, Dana. He was working as security contractor after leaving the Navy in 2009. Mr. Wise's funeral is expected to be held in the coming days.
Mr. Wise's home phone number was not listed and a message left with a possible relative was not immediately returned yesterday.
Harold E. Brown Jr., 37, of Virginia, who served in the Army, also was among the dead. His mother said Saturday he worked for the State Department. He is survived by a wife and three children, ages 12, 10, and 2.
The CIA is not releasing information about the victims, citing sensitivity of the mission and ongoing operations.
Six other agency personnel were wounded in what was considered the most lethal attack for the CIA since the war in Afghanistan began in 2001.
The bombing occurred at a former military base on the edge of Khost city, the capital of Khost province, which borders Pakistan and is a Taliban stronghold. The Taliban have claimed responsibility.