The Temps of War: Blue-Collar Workers Ship Out for Iraq

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ^ | Thursday, February 5, 2004 | RUSSELL GOLD

[presidio9]

HOUSTON -- In a shuttered J.C. Penney store here, more than 500 job recruits sat at long tables and leafed through packets of information. John Watson, a staffing supervisor for Halliburton Co., welcomed them with a somber introduction.

"I'd like to start out by saying we've already had three deaths on this contract so far," he told the workers, who had signed up to support the U.S. military in Iraq. "If you're getting any pressure from home, if you have any doubt in your mind ... now is the time to tell us. We'll shake hands and get you a plane ticket home."

[Sacajaweau]

I remember a group of us thinking about going to Kuwait as part of the recovering. A good friend snapped us back to reality.

[Mamzelle]

Willing workers for willing employers...

[humblegunner]

Ping!

[EagleMamaMT]

Read later.

[Non-Sequitur]

In a related story Halliburton has said that it's bill to the Defense Department for the 62,000 new employees mentioned in this story and recently sent to Kuwait in support of the U.S. effort was due to an accounting error related to obsolete software.

[jwalsh07]

How you doing EE?

[Allegra]

I remember a group of us thinking about going to Kuwait as part of the recovering. A good friend snapped us back to reality.

My good friends helped me pack.

[Prodigal Son]

They make a lot more than the soldiers, that's for sure.

[Flyer]

My good friends helped me pack.

And confiscated her avocado tree and sent her to the airport.

[Allegra]

Well, not all of us doing this crazy thang are blue-collar workers.

The majority of them are, though.

[presidio9]

I admire what you are doing over there, but is the entire country really dry, or are you just complaining that the beer is piss-warm?

[Allegra]

but is the entire country really dry, or are you just complaining that the beer is piss-warm?

I could answer that question, but then I'd have to shoot you.

:-)

[presidio9]

Well anyway, keep your head down, and your chin up (if such a thing is possible).

[Allegra]

Well anyway, keep your head down, and your chin up (if such a thing is possible).

I just tried that and now my neck hurts.

[presidio9]

Always remember: Pain is the body's way of telling us its getting better (whatever that means...).

[spodefly]

BTTT

[Eagle Eye]

Thanks for the ping.

All's well so far. Been in theater nearly a year...only about 6 more months to go. Got to admit that 7-12's are wearing me out, I'm tired. Tired of brown. Tired of dirt. Tired of needing guntrucks to go anywhere. Tired of a 30 mile trip taking 3-7 days due to convoy scheduling. Tired of sleeping in rodent infested tents, and metal containers that make a redneck singlewide seem luxurious and spacious. Tired of portajohns and needing to carry TP in my pocket all the time 'just in case'. Tired of no supplies. Tired of third world labor and third world goods. Tired of 35 lbs of body armor whenever going out the gate. Tired of IED's, mortars, small arms fire, and being suspicious of everyone who's not obviously American.

But when that direct deposit hits tomorrow, I'll be a happy camper again. (cha-CHING!)

Can you tell that I've not had a beer in a long, long time? Or that I need my R&R is a very very bad way?

I've met hundreds of great men and women in uniform. The best. Christmas with the 82nd. Convoys with the Razorbacks and their 5 ton gun trucks. Interactions with troops from the 10th, 101st, 3ACR, 4ID, SEALs, USMC, SeaBees, Aussies, Brits, Croats, Azjerbijanis, Georgians, Canadians, Ghurkas, and more. Officers, enlisteds, and NCO's.

Bangladeshis, Indians, Fillipinos, Iraqis, Turks, Jordanians, Syrians, South Africans, and many others.

Had some close calls and some interesting flights.

Seen mysterious men that come in from the shadows and leave out on choppers, then return and go back to the shadows.

And in the mean time, I miss the hell out of a decent pizza, an Uncle Henry's breakfast, Arturos Fuentes Dominican cigars, and Jameson Irish Whisky.

And a special someone back home.

Hey, you asked!

[Squantos]

LMAO......Sun screen son ....sun screen..............:o)

Thanks for taking yer turn in the barrel EE . Hang in there friend ! We're rooting for ya !.......

Stay Safe !

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Hey, you asked!

I'm going to remember that! (^:

Thanks for sharing the firsthand account, EE.

Last week, Washington Times was even pushing the 'poor and jobless on the homefront civilians as useful idiots in the clutches of evil, deceitful corporations' angle. ACK!

We have a new Freeper civilian worker in Iraq this week, tomakaze, to fix equipment (so 5-ton trucks and such don't break down on Hwy 1).

He asks that journeyman electricians contact him if they're interested in working in (beautiful, downtown) Iraq.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

HOUSTON -- In a shuttered J.C. Penney store here, more than 500 job recruits sat at long tables and leafed through packets of information. John Watson, a staffing supervisor for Halliburton Co., welcomed them with a somber introduction.

"I'd like to start out by saying we've already had three deaths on this contract so far," he told the workers, who had signed up to support the U.S. military in Iraq. "If you're getting any pressure from home, if you have any doubt in your mind ... now is the time to tell us. We'll shake hands and get you a plane ticket home."

By the end of that early January week, four of every five recruits would be packing to leave for a one-year stint in Iraq. There, in the largest mobilization of civilians to work in a war zone in U.S. history, they drive trucks, deliver mail, install air conditioners, serve food and cut hair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They also give vaccinations to children, build bridges, start companies from scratch, update Iraqi scientists on recent advances, mediate disputes, comfort the wounded, protect our troops.

One such volunteer civilian ~  a Veteran, as many are, who chose to serve again...to help the younger troops, and to make the world safer for his son:

It is nice to see nice comments for once otherwise we get caught up in all the negative press.  I have spent three of the last four years, as a civilian contract security officer,  in the middle east providing security for military bases. I was there when the last Iraqi war started and put up with several scud attacks a day for ten days until our guys located and destroyed the launchers.  Now, in a few weeks, I will be going to Iraq on another security contract and will have to put up with the same terrorists activity as the soldiers and marines already there.  people have told me that I am just doing it for money (the pay is pretty good). But that is not exactly true.  I fought three combat tours in Vietnam and never gave up on my country.  Now I can still serve my country by working over there providing security for bases so that the soldiers can be free to do their jobs and maybe a soldier won´t have to go to Iraq because guys like me are over there. Thank you very much for appreciating what those kids are doing over there, you will never realize how important that can be.

 

  My son is twelve years old and I hope he never has to fight in a war.  But if that should come to pass I hope that he does his duty and serves honorably and never brings shame to his family, hisself or his uniform.  In fact when I got to Vietnam for my first tour in the infantry, before my first combat operation I said that prayer:

   Dear God, please hear this prayer, I know I am not a religous person and I have never talked to you before But I pray that you watch over me and help me to get home safely and all in one piece.  God whatever happens I pray that I do my job well and not bring shame to my family, myself or my uniform. Amen

  I served three tours the first one with the 1st Infanty Division (Big Red One).  The second as a machine gunner on a helicopter down in the Mekong Delta with the 114th Assault Helicopter Company (Knights of the Air).  My last tour was as a platoon sergeant with the 1/50 th Inf (mechanized) along the coast of South Vietnam. 

  I have earned 33 awards and decorations, including the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, 16 Air Medals and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross.  So I guess God answered my prayers.

  I know you may not be interested in all this, but I thought I would pass it on. And if my son should choose the military I hope that he serves with honor and comes home unhurt, whole and mentally sound. 

 

Please pray for Scott, currently working in Iraq, as well as EE, tomakaze, and the rest of our courageous civilian support workers voluntarily serving in harm's way today.

And thank you to all who share the good news with others, especially our troops, who often only hear the same mainstream "news" our fellow-Americans are being fed on the homefront.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Ping for news about business in Iraq, recruiting our civilian soldiers.

[Alamo-Girl]

I join in agreement praying for these!

[Allegra]

Please pray for Scott, currently working in Iraq, as well as EE, tomakaze, and the rest of our courageous civilian support workers voluntarily serving in harm's way today.

Will add Scott to my prayers.

Don't forget me when you list those of us who are voluntarily serving in harm's way! :-)

[Allegra]

Can you tell that I've not had a beer in a long, long time?

Here...sing along with me:

"Oh how happy we will be
When we get back from the Duty Free.."

It's a little jingle we sing over here on our base.

[AngryJawa]

I've got two words for you, EagleEye.....

Thank you.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Allegra, thank you!

Added you to my list of civilians volunteering to serve in harm's way, and to my prayers. (^:

[Eagle Eye]

Ah....no sweat. Not yet anyway, it's still cold here.

Plenty of time for sweat in about 8 weeks.

Just buy me a beer when I get back stateside in May. A BIG beer...

[Eagle Eye]

Yeah, I've been there once. Next visit, I'll buy the BK, you visit the Duty Free. Deal?

[Allegra]

Yeah, I've been there once. Next visit, I'll buy the BK, you visit the Duty Free. Deal?

I'm ready when you are!

I've errrr...already been over there once. And I was by the BK today but didn't partake. Did the PX thang.

Gotta go back to Duty Free before things tighten up this spring...

Let's Roll. :-)

[Allegra]

Thank you so much for your prayers and God bless you.

The troops are the heroes. They're certainly MY heroes and I just love 'em all.

:-)

[bicycle thug]

Ping to read later.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

I have spent three of the last four years, as a civilian contract security officer, in the middle east providing security for military bases.

Halliburton Security?

[serurier]

Freedom will win ! Freedom need more people support ! Thank you Ragtime Cowgirl , thank you send this message to me .

[windchime]

Bump!

[radu]

BUMP!

[yiant]

Hello,

I am an electrician in Georgia and considering taking a position with Halliburton/kbr as a civilian contractor/electrician. I was hoping to find others who are in a similar situation...perhaps already there.

And gain a firsthand opinion of the possibilities. I would really appreciate your insight and if you actually come into contact with electricians, this would be priceless since they could give me a “what to expect and avoid” perspective from someone in my trade.



If you find time, please respond. I would really appreciate the effort. Peace and have a nice day. jim

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

You have Freepmail.