3 SC men killed early in terror wars are kept dear

JEFFERSON, S.C. (AP) — They never met each other, but three men from South Carolina killed in the first weeks after the U.S. opened a second front in the war on terror had so much in common.

They were all from small towns. And as the 10th anniversary of the attacks on Sept. 11 that led the U.S. into Afghanistan and Iraq arrives, their families say they were inspired by the heroism shown by firefighters and others on that terrible day.

Army Pfc. Spence McNeil died March 8, 2003, after a vehicle he was driving in Saudi Arabia rolled over. Air Force Sgt. Jason Hicks died 15 days later in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Army Staff Sgt. George Buggs III died the same day after his convoy was ambushed in Iraq.