Lakota grad dies in Yemen, but U.S. won't say how

The State Department says an American contractor who had been detained in Yemen is dead.

United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric told CBS that she could not confirm the contractors' nationality but said they arrived on a United Nations aircraft from Djibouti on October 20 and were detained by "the authorities at the airport in Sanaa".

The State Department confirmed Mr Hamen's death, though gave no further details on how it happened "out of respect for the privacy of Mr Hamen's family".

Yemen is torn by fighting between a U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition and Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels allied with army units loyal to a former president.

Officials with the State Department did not answer questions from the Journal-News regarding when, where and why Hamen was detained and how he died. "We categorical our deepest condolences to his family & buddies".

"Our family is heartbroken right now, I have lost the love of my life, my best friend, and my 7 kids have lost the best dad ever!" she added.

Hamen's body was expected to be back in Dover, DE by Monday, his wife wrote.

Hamen's LinkedIn profile lists his current occupations as "diplomatic support" and lists his former employment as USA special operations command, the U.S. army, and the Joint Communications Support Element.

The John Hamen Memorial Fund, created by Cornish on GoFundMe to assist Hamen's family, had raised $15,215 of its $25,000 goal as of early Tuesday evening.

He formerly was a Combat Advisor - Military Transition Team Sergeant in the U.S. Army.

According to neighbor Michael Bruns, who spoke to Cincinnati.com, Hamen is due to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full honors.