Body Of Kidnapped Contractor Returns Home

The body of captured contractor John Young returned home from Iraq Monday as family members prepare for his funeral.

Young, 44, of Lee's Summit, was working in Iraq when he was abducted in November 2006. Young is a former Army Ranger who worked as a civilian security officer for the Crescent Security Group, which is based in Kuwait.

Last week, the FBI announced that Young's remains and the remains of another kidnapped U.S. contractor had been recovered.

Young's body arrived at Kansas City International Airport on Monday afternoon. A group of motorcycle riders called the Patriot Guard stepped in to escort him home the airport.

"We don't usually know a soldier, unless we're escorting them out when they're going out on a mission or something," said Kurt Eckard with the Patriot Guard. "For somebody to actually give up so much of his life and give up his life for me to be able to sit here and speak with you freely, that means the world to me."

"Anything the family needs, we're here to stand by (the family's) side," one Patriot Guard rider said.

Young's relatives said he served his time in the military and then he wanted to return, but a shoulder injury kept him out. Working as a contractor in Iraq was one way for him to continue serving his country, relatives said.

"For him to turn around and sign up as a contractor and go back, it just it really touched me, because that shows patriotism to me, and that's what this is about," Eckard told KMBC's Marcus Moore.

Young's body was taken to his hometown of Lee's Summit. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Young is expected to be buried with full military honors.

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