Obit: KBR employee dies in Iraq (Feb 2007)

Subject: RE: Obit: KBR employee dies in Iraq
From: GUEST,The artist formerly known as Knucklehead
Date: 21 Jun 07 - 12:22 AM

I thought I was living up to my name pretty well, but I must relinquish it to those that can't see much difference between me and the Islamic martyr.

Thanks for playing.

Subject: RE: Obit: KBR employee dies in Iraq
From: GUEST,Knucklehead
Date: 21 Jun 07 - 02:13 AM

I Apologize. I did not consider the possibility that there is room for more than one Knucklehead, and I cast away my title in haste. Its just that in my first post here I was opening up my heart and laying out my thoughts on the topic that incorporated a lot of what others had to say, and indeed, used their own logic. Only for a millisecond did I consider that your responses may have been intended for my best interest, and I should have sought the best from them, even though they did seem sharp. I was trying to inspire a little humor and satire – it's not as fun when its personal, so maybe my thin skin isn't right for KBR, but you don't know me well enough to comment on my employability.

I understand that (with some imagination, in my opinion) there are parallels with a willingness to die to preserve or improve a way of life and that of an Islamic martyr. Perhaps our societies are not infinitely far apart. The difference for me is, I have something worth dying for, so I have something worth living for. What a wonderful gift. I guess I didn't make clear that I intended to live by whatever means available, because I agree that children would do better with a live dad than a paid off house or tuition - at least idealogically.

I find that is hard for people (especially me) to put others first, so I consider it heroic. Maybe some (or many)don't become a part of KBR (or similar) for the sake of others, that's not really any of my business. Accusers search yourself!

I should have been slow to respond to your replies, and written of only what is helpful for the benefit of those who read and listen. I should have been quick to thank you for trying to soak in my ramblings and muster a response. A discussion here may give me or others the courage to talk with friends about other potentially painful or heated subjects that must be confronted for relationships to grow, but I digress.

Our arguments on this matter can only produce semantics and quarrels that can not be won here. The glass is either half empty or half full, but that is not the right question.   If your brother or sister is thirsty and needs a drink, are you willing to share the water you have?

Thanks for the wishes of luck, we all could use it sometimes.

Subject: RE: Obit: KBR employee dies in Iraq
From: KBRWIFE
Date: 07 Apr 08 - 04:20 PM

Knucklehead,

Just wanted to know if you ever made it to work with KBR? My husband is also employed with them but in Afghanistan as support for the Army. He is a Heavy Equipment Operator. The reason he ended up doing this is in support of the troops and so we would get our life back.
Due to the price of fuel, the mortgage market and construction in general he has been out of work more in the last 2 years than he had been in 15 years totalled. I am disable so I'm not able to work and help out financially any more.I am in and out of the hosital a lot lately. My husband has 30 + years in construction. He is a USMC Viet Nam Vet that still has shrapnel and then he went into the Army 82nd Airborn. In the Army he was trained as A Equipment Operator. When he got out after 10 years due to a family tragedy, he went to work as a operator in the private sector.
He heard about KBR through a friend and applied in 01/08. We had lost our home and were fixing to lose our vehicles also. This is thanks to the enconomy. All our savings have been used up trying to hold on.Without healthcare through work, there was now way we could afford my medical bills nor medicine.He doesn't see any other way for us to get another home or for him to take care of me like he thinks I should be taken care of. We have had to move in with family friends for the time being as with unemployment you can't pay for much. All our children are grown with children of their own but they also have ties with the construction or mortgage business one way or another. They are all on the borderline themselves financially.
The KBR pay is only $14.90 an hour and it is a 7 days a week job for a 78 hour work week for 4 months straight before you get time off. You do not get overtime paid as you are overseas and the same laws do not apply there as they do here. He had been making $32.00 an hour as a foreman in the private sector, but that doesn't do much good when you don't have work and the companies are closing like crazy.
I applaud any man or woman that is willing to go into any war zone in support of our troops and to better their families lives. My husband had 3 tours in Nam in the Marines and was in several conflict areas when he was in the 82 Airborn. He is no stranger to war nor unfavorable living conditions. Anyone that has negative thoughts on the Military or US citzens in these areas needs to look at it this way. If the civilan contractors weren't there in support capacity then the draft would be reactivated to fill the positions that the civilians are filling at this time. Sure the civilians go for money but how many of the ones protesting them going would be willing to work the required hours or live in the conditions that they are willing to live in for the betterment of their families futures?
Saying the children would be better off with a live father than a dead one, sure every child is better off with a live one. The only thing is just how many live deadbeat dads are there are in this country. The dads that were killed in 9/11 would probably appreciate the civilians supporting the military.
My father was a Marine Fighter Pilot in WWII, Korea and Viet Nam. My husbands father had been in the Navy during WWII and ended up with a steel plate in his head, he then joined the Air Force and gave 28 more years to that branch of the service having served in all 3 wars also. The way our fathers see what my husband is doing, as admirable for the country and for his family. We have made sure through the years to have plenty of life insurance in case something ever did happen to my husband. This was while he was working and living in the USA. We never did imagine he would ever be going into something this dangerous again. I support my husband in everything he does in life and the decision was discussed for 14 months before he applied with KBR.
Good luck to our troops and to the brave civilians that go to work in these war zones. They need all they can get.

God Bless you Knucklehead and your family.

KBRWIFE

Subject: RE: Obit: KBR employee dies in Iraq
From: GUEST,Badboy275
Date: 08 May 08 - 01:58 AM

I was one of those contractors in Iraq from 2005-2006. I was injured in an IED attack on November 9th, 2006 in Baghdad. To this date the Army has still not acknowledged that I was in the vehicle in which two warriors were killed and a third was injured.

I spoke a lot with young troops who wanted to make the "big bucks" I was making. I put it in perspective for them I have a college degree, 4 years military experience, and 16 years Law Enforcement Officer experience for a total of 20 years experience. I was given a GS-12 pay rate, which is consistent with my education training and experience

My job there was to train the Iraqi Police, the sooner they were up and in control, the sooner we can pull our troops out.

I consider the job I did as something in direct support of our military mission over there, if I was there for the money, then I wasn't making enough! I saw friends killed and wounded, I was seriously injured, I was shot at, mortared, rocketed... If people think it was the money keeping me there, they are very wrong!

I have been labeled a mercenary because I carried a weapon for my own defense there. I hope that when my recovery is over I can return there, I still believe that I have unfinished work to do. I just hope that someday the American public will accept and respect the contributions made by civilian workers in the war on terrorism.

Subject: RE: Obit: KBR employee dies in Iraq
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 May 08 - 05:12 PM

Much well said Michaelr.

At the end of the day one must decide if the enhanced pay overrides the decision of whether what you do is right or wrong. If only pay (and risk) enters the equation then you are as culpable as the Germans for whom only the chain of command entered the equation.

It is doubly an oppression if after the US has destroyed the infrastructure of Iraq the US profits from the rconstruction and Iraq pays.

Subject: RE: Obit: KBR employee dies in Iraq
From: CarolC
Date: 08 May 08 - 05:30 PM

Another aspect of this story that is pretty outrageous is the fact that the private contractors don't always do an adequate job, even despite the fact that private contractors cost a lot more for the tax payers than the military does to do the same job. I understand that several (around a dozen so far, from what I've heard) of our military people have been killed by bad wiring when they have tried to take a shower. I've heard that there have been other problems with work done by civilian contractors as well.

But what can one expect from no-bid crony contracts?

Subject: RE: Obit: KBR employee dies in Iraq (Feb 2007)
From: Bobert
Date: 08 May 08 - 07:36 PM

Enlisted or contractors???

Hey, it's a fu*ked up war... It's a fu*ked up way of "prosecuting it... And it's pretty fu*ked up that there are a plenty of "Master or War" who are profiting from this fu*ked up war...

We have enlisted a bunch of ex-cons and poor folks to fight it and the way I see it is that regardless of how you got there, if yer fightin' yer guts out and you get messed up or killed, you deserve recognition for your courage...

As for the high number of KBR's who have become rapists ion Iraq, you all deserve a jail cell back home...

I mean, lets get real... If we are gonna privitize the fighting of wars then we're gonna have to give credit where its due and balme where blame is due...

Personally, I'd rather not see any privitization... None!!! Then we wouldn't have these problems... You wanta fight??? Enlist... End of discussion...

B~

Subject: RE: Obit: KBR employee dies in Iraq (Feb 2007)
From: GUEST,Scott
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 05:15 AM

As for alot of middle class skilled tradesman myself being a Journeyman Electrician, due to the economy my family, my wife and three beautiful children, are in a financial bind. I get my 40 hours working but because of the increase in the daily cost of living my 40 hours has become insufficient. I have an opportunity with KBR to make more than double what I bring home annually working in Iraq. Is it worth the risk of possibly getting severely injured or even killed? No. But I have to do what I need to do for the well fare and financial stability of my family. I depend on the troops for which I support to protect me while I am there, I will bring my skills and expertise to them to make their lives better and safer electrically speaking if that is the least I can to for them I will severely miss my daughter and 2 sons while I am gone as well my beautiful wife. I put and trust my life in GODS hands and pray that he will bring me home safe.GOD bless all who read this.

Subject: RE: Obit: KBR employee dies in Iraq (Feb 2007)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 03:12 PM

Working as a civilian contractor in Iraq has other uncertainties than being shot by the U.S. military or Iraqis. My upstairs tenant has completed several tours as a communications specialist. Each time after returning he has had to go to court to get his pay. His current lawsuit is with Titan. He may not get much sympathy here but maybe that information will give someone else pause before signing up.

Charley Noble