He came to America and made his new country proud

A 12-year-old Liberian boy fled to the United States in 1992, as his native country of Liberia was ravaged by a brutal Civil War. Just nine years later, when his new country was forced into a war it did not seek, the brave man signed up to fight for his still young, newfound freedom.

This is the story of Sgt. Albert Ware of Chicago, who died on Friday in Afghanistan's Arghandab River Valley. He was on his second tour of duty in the country. A Pentagon release sent out Tuesday afternoon said the soldier was killed when an improvised explosive device planted by terrorists blew up under his vehicle.

WMAQ-TV reports that Ware lived in the Windy City's Pullman neighborhood with his wife and three children. His name will soon be placed on a memorial close to where his family lives, which stands in tribute to fallen troops.

The NBC Chicago article about Ware has a tragic account of his family's final conversation with the soldier, just hours before his death.

Always generous, the family said Ware was making plans with his father to buy [his mother] a gift in his absence.

"I said, 'OK, call me tomorrow,' which was Friday. And that was the call that I got, which was four guys coming to tell me my son is dead," his father, Thomas Ware, recalled.

"He spoke to each one of us, and we shared our love. It was a normal conversation. I was trying to get from him a list of what his unit needed, because my job wanted to send him a care package," added his mother, Anna Ware.

Thank you, Sgt. Albert Ware, for coming to America and defending it so bravely. You have done an incredible deed for America, Liberia, and a world struggling against tyranny and terror. We will be praying for your family.