Killed in Iraq, he’s brought home to Gujarat for a final resting place

A ‘‘hello’’, a handshake and a polite hug—that was how Lissy Jean-Pierre met her in-laws at the Hussaini Mosque on ...

A ‘‘hello’’, a handshake and a polite hug—that was how Lissy Jean-Pierre met her in-laws at the Hussaini Mosque on Sunday afternoon as she handed over the body of her husband, US marine Hatim Siraj Kathiria.

According to the last wish of the 23-year-old, who died in a rocket attack in Iraq, the body was buried as per Bohra community’s rituals.

Kathiria, who went to the US in 2003, joined the US Army the following year in the hope that a stint in the armed forces would help fund a college scholarship—he had a degree in computer engineering. He was in charge of keeping track of US Army supplies in Baghdad.

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His body reached Dahod around noon. The family had earlier turned down the US Army offer for a complete Army Honoured funeral. They wanted to keep the affair private.

Outsiders were kept away from the mosque. Some 60 police personnel were deployed to control crowds as the entire town gathered to get a glimpse of their hero.

The traditional bathing of the body was done in the mosque and namaz was read. The entire community took turns to carry the hero’s body to the graveyard. But there was little outpouring of emotions.

The family seemed to have reconciled to the death of their sole breadwinner. Kathiria’s two sisters sat with their mother, his father and uncles spoke to the representatives from US embassy.

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‘‘He was my only son. His ambitions took him to the US and then to Iraq. We lost him, but he died a martyr’s death,’’ said Shirin, Kathiria’s mother.

‘‘We are proud of Hatim who died for the US Army. However, this is a sad moment for the family. His mother conducted tuition classes to collect money for his US trip,’’ said Abuzar Mirchiwala, Hatim’s cousin, who got the first news about the death via email.

Lissy Jean-Pierre left the town soon after the burial. She had reached Vadodara on Sunday morning, accompanied by US Consul-General Michael Owen and other representatives of the US Embassy.

Offering his condolences to the family, Owen said: ‘‘The US Embassy has conveyed its deepest sympathy, respect and support to his family. We are aware of Hatim’s service and the US government will offer complete support to his family members.’’

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Members from US Embassy, Delhi, Colonel S Sbodo and Major Greg Winston accompanied the body.

Lissy, who is from the Dominican Republic, is settled in the US. She also serves in the US Army and is expected to return to work soon.