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Family recalls slain Iraq contractor

Lucas “Trent” Vinson was due home from Iraq for a break in October. Instead, the 27-year-old civilian contractor’s father will accompany his body on a flight back to the United States.

Vinson was shot to death Sunday on the American military base where he worked with his father and uncle in the Iraqi city of Tikrit, the military said. A U.S. soldier was detained in the shooting but the military said it would not provide any additional details until an investigation is complete or charges are filed.

“We don’t want to make any guesses about motive or reason and potentially impact the investigation or its outcome,” said Maj. Derrick Cheng, a military spokesman in Iraq.

A spokeswoman for Vinson’s employer, Houston-based KBR, directed questions to the Army.

Rhonda Vinson, the slain man’s mother, said in a telephone interview that the killing was a tragedy for all involved, including the family of the soldier who allegedly pulled the trigger.

“I would offer my condolences to his family, too,” she said.

Authorities told Trent Vinson’s family that he was shot three times after offering a ride to an American soldier who flagged down his vehicle on the base, his mother said.

She said Trent Vinson, who lived in Leesville, La., could make anyone smile and will be remembered by friends and relatives for his loving character and outgoing personality.

“He loved to love,” she said. “He was optimistic all the way.”

That was apparent from the dozens of posts on the social networking site Facebook, where friends recalled parties, laughs and road trips with the LSU and New Orleans Saints fan.

“Trent you were a great friend to all,” one poster wrote. “Generous to a fault and always up for a good time. I’ve spent all day reminiscing, with each memory making me laugh just as much as I did when those moments first happened.”

Trent Vinson had worked in Iraq for five years before returning to Louisiana for a time. He returned to Iraq last year with KBR.

Trent Vinson’s father is accompanying his son’s body on a flight home, which was expected to land in the United States sometime Tuesday, Rhonda Vinson said. She said funeral arrangements were incomplete.

The U.S. military uses contractors in Iraq in various roles. KBR is the primary support contractor in Iraq, providing troops with services like housing, meals, mail delivery and laundry. Trent Vinson was in property management and kept logs of goods in the base.

As of June 30, 1,395 civilian employees of U.S. government contractors had been killed in Iraq, according to an AP count.