HONOLULU -- A Big Island man was one of the civilian victims in Wednesday's brutal ambush in Iraq.

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Wesley Batalona's wife said officials notified her that her husband was among the four American civilian contractors killed in Fallujah, Iraq. Batalona's wife was told of her husband's death while she was at work Thursday night.

Batalona, 48, was killed in an ambush on Wednesday. The other three victims were identified as Jerko "Jerry" Zovko, 32, Michael Teague, 38, and Scott Helvenston, 38.

The contractors were working for Blackwater Security Consulting when rocket-propelled grenades hit their vehicle.

Batalona spent his career as an Army Ranger before retiring and moving home to the Hamakua Coast several years ago. He was stationed for much of his career in Georgia, where his daughter now goes to college.

Blackwater USA, Batalona's parent company, has opened a memorial fund for the four people killed in the attack.

Checks can be mailed to:
Memorial Fund
PO Box 159
Moyock, NC 27958

"We grieve today for the loss of our colleagues and we pray for their families," a statement on the company's Web site said. "Coalition forces and civilian contractors and administrators work side by side every day with the Iraqi people to provide essential goods and services like food, water, electricity and vital security to the Iraqi citizens and coalition members. Our tasks are dangerous and while we feel sadness for our fallen colleagues, we also feel pride and satisfaction that we are making a difference for the people of Iraq."