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Jed Boal ReportingDan and Art Laguna both flew helicopters for a private security company in Baghdad. Both were shot down this week. Dan Laguna of North Salt Lake survived; his brother was killed.
We e-mailed Dan Laguna in Baghdad last night to ask him about the gun battle that killed his brother. He took the time to send us a detailed full-page account (see link provided under Index listing at right).
We also worked with our affiliate in Sacramento so we could show you dramatic video of Art Laguna saving a man from a flood a decade ago.
Sacramento County, Calif. January 1997: Art Laguna was experienced with dangerous maneuvers in the air. Here's a dramatic rescue he flew in Sacramento County, California during floods a decade ago, while flying for the California National Guard.
The state gave Art Laguna a medal of honor. He also served in Bosnia and Kosovo, before Iraq. Art Laguna recently arrived in Iraq to fly helicopters with his brother for Blackwater USA, a private security contractor.
The military is still investigating the crash.
Here's what Dan Laguna tells us happened to them in the minutes before his brother was gunned down: "First of all," he writes, "my brother is a HERO. All he ever wanted to do was fly."
Laguna calls theirs one of the most demanding jobs in Iraq. He says Blackwater Aviation is up every day, all day in the Red Zone. Monday, they got a call that one of their teams needed help. Laguna says, "We always go when someone is in harm's way."
He sent out two helicopters, which immediately received automatic fire--a door gunner was shot in the head. Those helicopters retreated while Dan and Art Laguna got their crews together and took off. "When we arrived," he writes, "we started to receive heavy volumes of automatic fire from all around. My brother was my wing man.. they were taking rounds. By the time I got turned around to see him he was gone. As I continued to look for his helicopter we also got shot down."
Dan Laguna landed his helicopter in a small court yard. His crew was ok. He flew his damaged helicopter back to the green zone. After quick repairs, he headed back to search for his brother with the help of the military.
He found his brother's helicopter in a small alley. Two bodies had been dragged into the street. The military reports that all five crew members had been shot execution-style in the back of the head.
Dan ID'd his brother and crew and realized he'd have to make a very difficult call to his brother's wife and let her know he did not suffer.
He concludes, "I know we are doing the right thing in helping the Iraqi people and wish everyone could understand that."
Military officials in Washington say they do not know whether the pilot and crew were still alive when they were shot.
Art Laguna's body will soon be flown back to the States, but Dan will stay in Iraq until he's relieved of duty.
