Pronoun problem

The passage below is from a book, Justice, what’s the right to do.
In this part, I’m not sure what the underlined “they” stands for.
To me it seems to represent his dead comrades through his philanthropic decision to turn the Afghan goatherds free.

Thanks.

http://books.google.co.kr/books?id=SKEeHVwT5UMC&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25&dq=%22me+till+they+rest+me+in+an+East+Texas+grave%22&source=bl&ots=vZi04adiho&sig=mJMt8HkwyAUwcrxBlohMKFJ0aZc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6TiPUeWXJseGkQXW2oDoBw&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22me%20till%20they%20rest%20me%20in%20an%20East%20Texas%20grave%22&f=false

“I must have been out of my mind. I had actually cast a vote which I knew could sign our death warrant... At least, that’s how I look back on those moments now... The deciding vote was mine, and it will haunt me till they rest me in an East Texas grave.”