Big Isle to mourn
Iraq victimThe burial of the former Army
ranger follows services today
HONOKAA, Hawaii » Wesley Batalona, the retired Army ranger from the Big Island killed while doing contract work in Iraq, was striking out at those who oppressed people, said his longtime friend Harold Vidinha.
"That's what drove him to sacrifice himself," Vidinha said.
Vidinha was to be the eulogist today at services for Batalona at the Honokaa Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. Burial was to follow at the Honokaa County Cemetery.
Batalona was one of four American civilians killed March 31 in a brutal attack in Fallujah. They were killed in an ambush, and their charred bodies were mutilated and dragged through streets filled with cheering Iraqis.
They were working for Blackwater Security Consulting when their vehicle was hit by rocket-propelled grenades.
A Kauai native five years older than Batalona, Vidinha met Batalona in Georgia in 1975. Both men had a similar desire in their youth to see the world. The Army was a way to do that. Service abroad opened their eyes.
"When you see what you have back home and they don't have," that's what drove him, Vidinha said last night at a visitation for family and friends at the church.
In Iraq he was always giving candy to barefoot kids, Vidinha said. Batalona had no doubts about his quasi-military duties as a contract employee, but his spiritual life was different, Vidinha said.
"Wesley was trying to find his way. He was trying to find out if what he was doing (spiritually) was right. He collected a lot of Bibles. He was determined to get a Quran," Vidinha said.
"He was really devout," despite having no religious preference. "He attended any and every church he could go to," Vidinha said.
Grant Yamamoto, a childhood friend who never saw Batalona again after their school days, remembered him as a guy who liked to play jokes on people. "I just remember him as a real fun-loving guy."
Vidinha said that part of Batalona's personality never changed. With buddies he was talkative.
The moment someone new came into the room, he became quiet and observant. Then after watching the new person for a while, he'd pull a prank on him as a way of finding out what he was really like.
"He was never wrong. It worked out," Vidinha said.
One of the new guys Batalona met was Jerry Zovko, one of the people killed with him, according to Vidinha.
Before they met, everyone was saying what an odd guy Zovko was. As soon as Batalona met him, they clicked.
"He took Jerry as his son," Vidinha said. "He's my hero."
Vidinha said he will try to make sure that the life of June, Batalona's widow, is secure. "She's doing good. She's standing strong," he said.
Batalona's uncle Jacob Batalona said his nephew told him before returning to Iraq, "They're searching for a lifestyle where they can find peace and harmony."
Jacob added, "I hope we all find peace."