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Posted on 04/02/2004 1:56:28 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
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He helped prepare actress Demi Moore for her role as the first woman to join the Navy SEALs in "G.I. Jane," and appeared on two reality series: "Man vs. Beast" and "Combat Missions."
But after years out of the service, friends said they weren't surprised to learn the former SEAL had left the comfort of his life in California behind him and headed for Iraq.
"That's what, in a time of need, true American warriors like Scott would do," "Combat Missions" producer Mark Burnett said Thursday.
Helvenston, 38, was among four American civilian contractors killed in Fallujah, Iraq, in an ambush on Wednesday, their charred bodies mutilated and dragged through the streets. The contractors were working for Blackwater Security Consulting when their vehicle was hit by rocket-propelled grenades.
Two of the other victims have been identified as Jerko "Jerry" Zovko, 32, and Michael Teague, 38.
Zovko always wanted to save the world, his mother said. He joined the Army at 19 and spoke five languages fluently — English, Croatian, Spanish, Russian and Arabic.
"Jerry was a man with a principle, an idea," his mother, Danica "Donna" Zovko said in Willoughby, Ohio. "He loved people. He wanted the world to be without borders, for everybody to be free and safe."
Mrs. Zovko said she and her husband, Jozo, suspected their son was one of the dead late Wednesday evening because he had been working in Iraq. Their fears were confirmed early Thursday.
"He was the most self-motivated person," Zovko's brother Tom told ABC's "Good Morning America. "He grew up a skinny, little guy but wanted to be big, and he become big. He had desire and motivation and never gave up."
Teague was a 12-year Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, Panama and Grenada, said his wife, Rhonda Teague. She said he received a bronze star for his service in Afghanistan.
Rhonda Teague called her husband a "proud father, soldier and American."
"I, his son Brandon and his friends and family will miss him without measure," her statement said.
Teague, of Clarksville, Tenn., had worked in the security business since he left the Army six years ago, and joined Blackwater Security two months ago, WTVF-TV of Nashville reported.
A friend, Sgt. John Ratliff, told CBS' "The Early Show" that Teague "told me to promise to take care of his wife and his son ... He knew it was rough over there."
"In my opinion, Mike was caught in a situation to where he couldn't do anything for himself or his counterparts," Ratliff said. He said he knew his friend "would have done anything in his power" to save himself and the other three if it had been possible.
Helvenston's fitness company, Amphibian Athletics, promised to bring a Navy SEAL-style workout to his customers. His wife, Tricia, appeared in some of the company's workout videos.
Fred Atkinson, a neighbor of Helvenston's in Oceanside, said he was a devoted father to his children, Kyle and Kelsey, and often took them camping or surfing.
The identity of the fourth victim was not immediately known. The names of the victims were not officially released because all family members had yet to be notified, U.S. officials said Thursday.
Blackwater Security, based in Moyock, N.C., provides security training and guard services to customers around the world. President Gary Jackson and two other company leaders are former Navy SEAL commandos.
A statement on the company's Web site said officials were grieving for the employees.
"Our tasks are dangerous, and while we feel sadness for our fallen colleagues, we also feel pride and satisfaction that we are making a difference for the people of Iraq.
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A Clarksville, Tennessee, man was one of four American civilians killed in an ambush in
Fallujah, Iraq, a few days ago.
The wife of Michael Teague, 38, says her husband died Wednesday after an attack involving rocket-propelled grenades. His body and the bodies of several other men were mutilated and dragged through the streets of the city.
Teague left the Army six years ago, after serving for twelve years. He was working with a private security firm in Iraq.
Rhonda Teague says her husband was a "proud father, soldier, and American."
~ Iraq atrocity hits close to home ~ Michael Teague
All memorial gifts will be documented and appropriately acknowledged with due regard to the wishes of the donor and the nature of the contribution, the statement said.
Contributions may be mailed to: Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 159, Moyock, N.C. 27958. Make checks payable to: Memorial Fund.
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This morning on FN, they said that one of the men was still ALIVE when he was dragged from the truck.
These people are barbarians!
FORT RILEY-- Residents near this historic Army post were moved Thursday by the death of five Fort Riley soldiers in Iraq, but also understood the loss was part of war.
AP Photo
U.S. administrator in Iraq L. Paul Bremer addresses new members of the Iraqi Police Service during a graduation ceremony Thursday in Baghdad, Iraq.
"Every time we lose one it's a tragedy for the fort and the community," said Geary County Sheriff Jim Jensen, a Vietnam veteran and member of the American Legion. "They are part of our community."
Soldiers, who declined to discuss the latest developments, continued to frequent Junction City's downtown, shopping, paying bills and grabbing a bite to eat
The soldiers were killed Wednesday when a bomb detonated under their M-113 in Malahma, an area in the Sunni Triangle -- roughly between Baghdad, Ramadi and Tikrit. It was the deadliest day for Fort Riley, which now has lost 35 soldiers since the war began, nearly double the number of deaths during the Persian Gulf War.
Families of the five soldiers were notified Thursday by the Army, which was expected to release names and units before midday Friday.
Family members identified 1st Lt. Doyle Hufstedler III, 25, of Abilene, Texas, and Pvt. Brandon Lee Davis, 20, of Cresaptown, Md., as among the five soldiers killed. Fort Riley officials would not confirm that information.
About 4,600 Fort Riley soldiers are in Iraq. The five soldiers who died Wednesday were part of the 1st Infantry Division's 1st Brigade, which deployed in September.
In all, at least 597 U.S. troops have died in Iraq since the war began March 20, 2003. President Bush declared an end to major combat on May 1.
Jensen, who served in the 1st Division, including 18 months in combat, said the fight in Iraq is difficult because after disposing of the main opposition, "bad people" continue to use deadly tactics.
Scott Price, a retired Army major at Fort Riley, said support for the soldiers still in Iraq remained steadfast at home in light of the less-than grateful population.
"They are biting the hand that feeds them, but biting it off at the wrist," Price said.
Pearl Speer, the post's community services director, said the deaths were difficult to cope with because of the number of soldiers associated with one unit, but the mood was somewhat different from a year ago.
"There isn't as much anxiety right now, even though each death causes anxiety," Speer said.
At this time last year troops were still moving forward and families did not know where their loved ones were. Now, with better communication being established, families generally know where their soldiers are in relation to attacks.
Fort Riley spokeswoman Christie Vanover described the mood on post as "almost a state of schizophrenia" -- a mood that is amplified by ceremonies celebrating the return of some soldiers.
"They will be looking around for who's not standing," she said. "Families will be rejoicing on the heels of casualties. It's just a reminder that this war's not over."
The deaths came one day before the one-year anniversary of the first Fort Riley death in Iraq.
Sgt. Jacob Butler, 24, was a scout with the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Armored Division. He died April 1, 2003, at Assamawah, Iraq, when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his vehicle.
Members of the 1st Armored Division and the 937th Engineer Group, which are based at Fort Riley, were deployed at the start of the war and are coming back to Kansas. A group of 1,000 was due to return Friday through Sunday.
Bank president Robert Munson, who learned of the five Fort Riley deaths Thursday, paused and reflected on what he called "the supreme sacrifice" the soldiers are paying.
"It's awful tough," he said. "The whole community is affected."
Down the street, lined with yellow ribbons and American flags, Connie Hall recalled her own anxieties when her son -- a Marine -- was in Iraq for six months.
Hall, director of the convention and visitors bureau, said residents know that she probably helped some soldiers who died find information about the area at some point. That's not uncommon in a community that has prayed and played with soldiers for 150 years.
"We hate getting the news," said Hall, who receives e-mails from Fort Riley identifying soldiers who have died. "I hate to look at the pictures to see if I knew one of them."
But, she added, "We're a military town and a lot of time that means sacrifices."
http://www.dodgeglobe.com/stories/040204/sta_0402040027.shtml
They'll get it. God rest their souls.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these fine men in their time of sorrow.
"No disrespect, but Mr. Helvenston went to Iraq not as a American solider or warrior but as a very well paid employee for Blackwater Security. Pay is up to $250,000 year (much of it can be tax free) plus expenses for security personnel with SOF experience." According to this Budget Update the cost of a soldier in Iraq costs $14,900 a month or $178,800 a year per Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Soldiers deployed are not available to all necessary tasks in country and at any level are not cheap to the taxpayer. You could not use the typical security guard to do these tasks anyway. The premium pay is a secondary issue to the availability of troops and Helvenston or any of the others were worth every cent. 19 posted on 04/02/2004 6:58:19 AM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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