Guyanese soldier killed in Iraq

A 22 year-old Guyanese soldier was accidentally killed last weekend in Iraq. According to a US Defense Department spokesman, Specia-list (Army Private) Rasheed Saheb, was shot to death by another American soldier “in a tragic mishap”. He was shot in the chest during a routine rifle cleaning session by the other soldier.

Saheb has been with the 4th Infantry Division for three years.  He had been attached to a supply unit out of Fort hood, Texas. Saheb was in Iraq since April 1 and family members said they did not speak with him since then. The Defence Department said Sahib and the other soldier were cleaning their guns when the gun of the other soldier discharged a round which struck Saheb.  The Defence Department has not identified the other solider whose gun discharged and said that “the incident is under further investigation”. His mother, Fizoon Ashraf, dissolved in tears and in a state of shock, told reporters: “My hero is gone. Nothing can bring him back to me”.

Saheb was looking forward to becoming an American citizen.  Reports say he promised his family becoming an American citizen “would be the first thing he would do when he got out of the army”. “That dream is now gone”, his mother told reporters. Saheb’s sister, Nafeeza said he worried about going to fight in the desert.  Nafeeza, told reporters: “He was sad when he left us.  He believed in what he was doing but he didn’t want to leave us”. The deceased was flown to the US last Thursday and handed over to the family on Friday morning for viewing. He was buried at a cemetery in New Jersey according to Muslim rites and was given full military honours with gun salute.