Capt. Brian S. Freeman

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) _ An Army Reserves captain from Temecula who was working to help Iraqis start a beehive venture was among five Americans killed when his meeting was ambushed by gunmen dressed as U.S. troops, relatives said. Capt. Brian Scott Freeman, 31, died Saturday when his meeting area in the Shiite holy city of Karbala came under attack by mortar and smalls arms fire, the U.S. Department of Defense said Tuesday. Defense officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment about the conditions surrounding the attack.
Freeman was assigned to the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion, based in Whitehall, Ohio, defense officials said.
Freeman was born in Bakersfield and moved to San Diego after his parents' divorce, ultimately settling in Temecula, said the soldier's father, Randy Freeman. The 1999 West Point graduate was on active reserve.
His awards include two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He also earned Combat Action, Air Assault, Parachutist and Marksmanship Qualification badges, said a public affairs specialist with the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) in Fort Bragg, N.C.
In 2002, Freeman was accepted into the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program at Fort Carson, which trains service members for U.S. Olympic teams. He earned a third place in the America's Cup for bobsledding later that year, defense officials said.
The soldier is survived by his wife and two children, ages 3 and 1. "He was just a real generous and loving son, loving father," Randy Freeman said.