Tucson man killed in terrorist attack on military base in Kenya

PHOENIX (KOLD News 13) -- A Tucson man was one of three Americans killed Sunday in a terror attack at a military base in Kenya.

Hope Harrison said her husband Dustin died when Al-Shabab extremists overran a key military base used by U.S. counter terror forces in Kenya before dawn, destroying several U.S. aircraft and vehicles.

GoFundMe: Donate to the Harrison family

Dustin, a pilot, was a contractor for the Department of Defense. A second contractor was killed in the attack, but he has not been identified.

According to several reports, Spc. Henry Mayfield Jr. also died in the fighting which left five attackers dead. Mayfield, 23, was from the Chicago area.

KOLD News 13 spoke with Hope by phone on Monday. She asked for privacy and said she was meeting with Dustin’s co-workers to learn the details of the attack.

After that, Hope and her daughter will fly to an Air Force Base to receive his body.

She called Dustin a “silent hero” and said he didn’t like to talk about himself or his work.

A public memorial service is being planned, Hope said. She said Dustin would’ve wanted something small, but she wants everyone to know how incredible he was.

Hope also posted about Dustin’s death on Facebook.

“Received the heart wrenching call this evening that my beautiful husband was one of the casualties from the terrorist that took place early this morning.” she wrote. “My world is completely a nightmare at the moment. My worst fear is now my reality. The pain is unbearable. Please keep myself and our family in your prayers."

Al-Shabab, based in neighboring Somalia, claimed responsibility. In a statement Sunday evening proclaiming the 10-hour attack over, it asserted 17 U.S. “casualties," nine Kenyan soldiers killed and seven aircraft destroyed.