LETTER FROM : LTC JOE RAPYA, USA

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Christmas Memories from Iraq
Current mood: thoughtful
Category: Life

Christmas Memories from Iraq Mark R. Taylor December 24, 2006   Tomorrow is Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  On another level, it is a time for family gatherings, eating too much and presents.  Our children will awaken early to see the treats Santa left under the tree.  However, with the country at war, tens of thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, as well as civilian contractors for KBR and others, will be in Iraq, Afghanistan and places throughout the world, unable to join in the festivities with their families.   In December 2005, I was one such contractor.  A convoy commander with KBR, I spent Christmas with my fellow truckers and our convoy escorts, the 1544th Transportation Company, Illinois National Guard, and the 497th Transportation Company, Ft. Lewis, Washington.  We were a family, living and working together in extreme danger.  It was this time of year, for me, that I missed my family the most.   It was the thoughtfulness and kindness of many individuals and businesses in the states that helped make our Christmas holiday bearable.  Packages of cookies and candy, Christmas cards and presents from people who did not know our names, but knew we were out there, brightened our hooches, DEFACs and trucks.   I would like to take this column to thank the people who made our holiday bright.  George Smith and DG Productions, www.toysbydg.com, provided a special Christmas present when his company made limited edition collectible "Iron Pony Express" trucks for the drivers in my unit.  Shipped to my wife, who in turn shipped them to where ever the drivers wanted (whether home or Iraq), these trucks are a permanent reminder of the thoughtfulness and kindness of George and his company.  Jim Johnston and the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association made and shipped another special treat – 200 OOIDA caps with our adopted name, "The Iron Pony Express" embroidered on the back.  Mr. Johnston and OOIDA sent the caps, Chap Stick and other goodies just in time for our Christmas party with the 1544th.  Dominick with The Celebrity Café (WWW.thecelebritycafe.Com) sent a large box of CDs of different music genres that were enjoyed by all.  Our tree was adorned with wooden truck ornaments, hand crafted by Convoy Crafts (WWW.convoycrafts.Com), in conjunction with TJ Graff, who eventually became a contractor in Iraq himself.  Pastor James Cardin's "Truckers Chapel Outreach" sent a Christmas message on CDs that blessed and inspired.   With fudge and phone cards from Jean West – mother of Landline Magazine's Jami Jones, CDs and DVDs from Joe Hart, Darrin and Elizabeth Heller, CDs by Truck It Records' recording artists Joey Holiday and TC Bush, and so many – too many to name, and I apologize for any omissions – it was a special Christmas I will never forget.    Our wives put together packages with love and care – our families would get together with their churches, family, friends and many others.  The packages were anxiously awaited and joyfully received.   My sister in law, Cathy Hinklin, at Treasures of Patterson (WWW.treasuresofpatterson.net) shipped a Christmas tree in November 2005.  While its whereabouts are currently unknown (it never arrived at Baghdad International Airport where I was), the fate of the tree has become a bit of a legend with my wife's family, and we hope it blessed the people at its final destination.    Remember our soldiers and civilian contractors this Christmas, as well as their families, as they continue to fight for our freedoms.     DG Productions – www.toysbydg.com OOIDA – www.ooida.com The Celebrity Café – www.thecelebritycafe.com Treasures of Patterson – www.treasuresofpatterson.net Joey Holiday – www.joeyholiday.com TC Bush – www.tcbush.com Convoy Crafts – www.convoycrafts.com TJ Graff – www.gotruckstop.com     Mark R. Taylor is a former Bradley County, Arkansas, auxiliary deputy sheriff and volunteer firefighter.  Currently a long-haul truck driver, he served in Iraq from January 2004 to May 2005 as a civilian convoy commander.  He has appeared on The Captains America and other radio programs and his commentary has appeared in Landline Magazine, American Daily, Family Security Matters and Townhall.Com. The Taylors live in South Arkansas.  Mark's website is www.uglypuppy.net

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Thanksgiving
Category: Life

Thanksgiving

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Veterans Day
Category: News and Politics

Today is the day we honor our nation's veterans.  From World War One to Operation Iraqi Freedom these courageous heroes have fought and sacrificed for our freedoms.  For many of us, Veterans Day means not only honoring our Air Force, Marines, Army and Navy.  It is a day to honor our American contractors who went to Afghanistan and Iraq to serve their country.    Politics and media bias aside, these men and women faced the same enemy, the same danger, as our military.  Many gave their lives while delivering mail, fuel and supplies to our heroes in uniform.  The media has done a grave disservice to these men and women, portraying them as mercenaries and worse.   The reality is that many of them went to serve their country.  Unable to join the military due to age limits, they took jobs with KBR, DynaCorp, Blackwater and others.  They drove trucks; they rebuilt a country against the odds that was destroyed by years of neglect by a tyrannical dictator.   They left their wives, husbands, jobs and children to journey to a war torn country to serve our military.   The story of our mail haulers in Iraq, The Iron Pony Express, has been told in song and video by Nashville recording artist, Joey Holiday.  With lyrics by Iron Pony Express member, David Baker, and photos and video taken by Mark R. Taylor, Holiday told the story of a group of courageous men and women, who along with the 1544th Transportation Company, Illinois National Guard and the 497th Transportation Company, Ft. Lewis, Washington, delivered mail under intense enemy fire.   Col. Gerry Schumacher (US Army Special Forces – retired) furthered the story in his book, "A Bloody Business".  With stories by Mark R. Taylor, Ken McDonald and Glen Collins, Schumacher brought the realities of the American Trucker in Iraq to life.  Additional stories from security contractors and training contractors go on to show that these men and women are, like our military, combat veterans.   I am proud of our contractors and the work they have done.  When our young son looks at his dad, he does not see "contractor" – he sees a man who sold his trucking company – his life's dream – to go to Iraq.  He sees a hero who came against RPGs and IEDs.  He sees his dad as a member of a group whose dedication to the mission brought him home safe.  The pride our son has for his dad for living what he believes is more precious than medals or awards.   Our son looks at photos of his cousin with pride, a cousin who enlisted in the Air Force after September 11 and left his wife and daughter to fight in Iraq.  He is proud of his cousin and wants to follow in his footsteps and join the Air Force.  The example set by these two men to our children is priceless.   This Veterans Day and every day, we should honor those who served.  I dedicate today's column to my husband and the Iron Pony Express, to Capt. Matt Bruce and those who served in Vietnam.  It is dedicated to the 1544th and 497th and to my nephew and those who served with him.  And to all our heroes, military and civilian.    Honoring our Veterans should not be limited to one day, but every day of the year.  Thanks to all who served – may God bless you.   Renee Taylor Editor www.greatmindsthinkright.com   Video tributes to our veterans can be seen at http://youtube.com/ironponyexpress

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We're Growing
Category: News and Politics

"Great Minds Think Right" is growing!

We now have our own domain at www.greatmindsthinkright.com and, while we are going through the process of learning the new software and technology, we thank everyone for thier patience.  Now a member of the Moveoff.net family of commentary sites, we look forward to bringing more cutting edge commentary from me and many others.

Mark

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President Bush Makes First Visit to Sarasota Since 9/11/2001
Category: News and Politics

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What Part of the Word STUPID Don't You Understand???
Category: News and Politics

What Part Of The Word STUPID Don't You Understand???

Written by Matt Bruce - The Captain's America - wwpr1490.com
used with permission

SARASOTA, FL. (NS) -
Picture the following scenario I'm going to tell you about, because it actually happened...

First you have a person riding a bicycle holding a cellphone,  dressed like some sort of homeless person, doing a radio show from his bicycle at an event for the President of The United States...

This person is riding in an area where the sign clearly states and is lit up saying "NO Stopping, Standing Or Parking"...

Intially when this person on the bicycle arrived, he was told by law Enforcement that he was to stay inside a certain area. This was verified by the comment made on the radio show by the individual on the bicycle and is also recorded on the radio show tape...

Then a little while later, he found himself down in front of the place where the residential event was taking place talking on his cell phone doing a radio show...

At this point, his radio show and all comments being made are now being heard by Secret Service Agents at the main gate as this person rides up...

The person on the bike is talking to an Anti-War protestor who is ranting about Nazi-ism and Gestapo tactics plus a few other choice words that I can't print in this article while the Secret Service listens to all of this on my pickup truck radio...

Now ask yourself, what would YOU do if you're the Secret Service?

Obviously I'm sure you can imagine what happened next, especially since the Secret Service was still listening to the radio show, the bicycle rider and his Anti-War protestor friend as my vehicle was being searched to gain entry into the VIP parking lot at the Presidential event...

Next thing I knew an Agent was transmitting on his radio to his fellow Agents at the main entrance. Whatever was then said, I have NO idea of..

OK, so now go inside not knowing what was taking place outside and start preparing myself for my special radio show broadcast from 12 noon to 1pm live at the Presidential event for which I had credentials and was The White House Media Press List to do...

After a few minutes a Secret Service Agent came up to me and asked me if the person on the bicycle out by the main entrance "was any part of my radio show." I answered NO, which was absolutely TRUE, he was NOT.  Nothing else was asked of me. I was also told at that time that he had shown the Secret Service some kind of 'expired' Press Card. Now ask yourself, how STUPID is that???

That was all I was asked at that time and nothing else was said until I ran across Manatee County Sheriff Charlie Wells. At that time I learned about the bicylist being "detained" which was going on outside the event involving the other radio show person who was NOT authorized to be in or at the Presidential event nor was in ANY way
a part of my radio show...

I waited until the Radio Station Owner showed up as my photographer and then I asked the Secret Service to come over and tell her what was going on, I had NO idea what the circumstances were at this time with this individual.  At that point the Secret Service used such choice words as is this guy on the bicycle was "Nuts," "Crazy," "Stupid" and "Moronic". As a matter of fact, they even wondered "how he ever could have gotten on the radio."

So after clarification from the Radio Station Owner, I believe this person was told to leave the area immediately. But instead of doing that, he chose to make 3 stops before clearing the Presidential event which I believe caused him further embarassment and once again being stopped, this time by a female Manatee County Sheriff...

Now, I ask ALL of you...what part of STUPID doesn't everybody understand???

This was an obvious attempt by sometime whose Totem Pole doesn't go all the way to the top, that was merely trying to do something for publicity  purposes...

What may have started out as an innocent attempt to do his radio show from close to' a Presidential event took a much different turn when his own words on the radio and those of an Anti-War protestor got HIM into trouble with the U.S. Secret Service...

Once again, this only goes to prove that you'd better be 'careful' what you say on the radio because you never know who's listening...

The only other problem with all of this is everybody knows he is associated with the Manatee County Democratic Party and what he did was a very STUPID thing for himself and for THEM...

You don't show up at a Presidential event without the proper credentials and start talking on a cell phone over the radio airwaves being listened to by the U.S. Secret Service and then start talking to someone about "where they can set up to protest" a Presidential event...

That WILL get you into BIG trouble every day of the week as this person has now found out...

Has he learned anything from this incident? Not hardly, since he promptly announced to me, "I'll be at the Laura Bush event."

So once again, what part of STUPID don't you understand???

What was this persons name you ask? "Mitch Mallett," host of a local Bradenton Democratic Themed Radio Show called "It's Your Gavel" which is nothing more than the mouth piece for the Democratic Party...

It's no wonder why the Democrats are STILL the 'minority' with people like this as their spokesman...

Remember this when you head for the Polls to Vote on Tuesday November the 7th...

For Now That's Just 'OUR' Opinion...
Matt Bruce
Managing Editor
News Sarasota.com
Host Of "The Captain's AMERICA" Radio Show
12 noon to 1 pm ET
Heard On 1490 WWPR Radio
Bradenton - Sarasota - Tampa & Venice, FL...

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Congratulations, Your Loved One is Coming Home
Category: Life

Congratulations, your loved one is coming home.

By Betsy Reed – guest commentator

October 24, 2006

I want to start out by thanking you for your sacrifice, as you have made many sacrifices for this our wonderful country. It is hard enough to have to move your whole household every three years, but the ultimate is having your loved one gone for almost a year, let alone go to a war zone. Your loved one is definitely a hero, but you are every bit a hero too.

You have held down the home front and had to be the one to make sure everything runs smoothly while your husband or wife is gone. You have had to fill in for your spouse/loved ones this past year with the kids, with the vehicles, with the house, and with the yard.  Believe me, I know how hard that can be. My husband was gone for two and a half long, lonely, hard years. I learned how important it was to get my sources lined up to help me with all of the difficult tasks that I felt so incapable of doing. These sources also had to be reasonably priced if not down right cheap as keeping things going can really get expensive.

You also have had to be both mama and daddy to the kids. That is almost impossibility. The kids are not something that you can put on hold like you could a stuck window, wait till daddy or mama comes home. Nope, these ever changing little humans that we have created from our own bodies have minds of their own, and needs. Oh those needs! Meanwhile we have needs too. The need for a little cooperation from those growing kids we have living in our homes, as well as some cooperation from the car, the appliances the lawn mower, and for that matter any and all of the other stuff that daddy used to do.

Eventually however, we do manage to get into a fairly decent routine, and learn how to do the things that we never really wanted to learn how to do. Hey, even the kids are doing pretty well. No, things are not perfect, and we miss our loved ones, but we are evolving into a can do person here. In fact we are even proud of some of our accomplishments and some of our newfound abilities.

Now, it is getting time for our loved one to come home. The first thing we think of is, will he be happy with what I have done? Does the house look ok? Do I look ok? Shoot, I need to lose 5 more pounds. I haven't seen him in so long will he think I have changed?  How should I act?

All of these questions are normal. Also, in the back of your mind you think that it will be so good for him to get back home so he can handle the car problems, or the air conditioner problems or the "you fill in the blank" problems. Just give him a few weeks and then we can get back to normal.

NO, NO, NO!!!!! This is where you will run into problems.

First, your husband or wife is not coming back to the same people that he/she left. You have changed. You have had to grow greatly while they were away, and you are not the same dependent person that you were before deployment. You have grown up, a lot. If your spouse thinks they are coming home and things will be just the way it was before let the buzzer go off in your head now – buzzzzzzzz - (which means wrong) because you are not that person anymore. When daddy or mama left, the kids were in certain stages (you know they are always in some stage or another, and they seem to jump from one stage to another without always completing the stage they were just in). They have also grown in size, in wisdom (hopefully), but definitely in knowledge, whether good knowledge or bad knowledge, it is still knowledge, and even changed in their likes and dislikes. Ha even by now the fads and some of the fashions have even changed. 

No, he/she is definitely not coming home to the same people. What he/she wants to come home to is what he/she left behind, and those people just do not exist any more.

Of course who you expect to come home to you is the same person that left. Guess what? That person does not exist any more either.  He/she is still in there somewhere, but after the things they have experienced over in Iraq, that person is buried deep inside a protective shell that is very thick.

He/she may look the same, may smile the same and even at the very first for one or two days or maybe even a few weeks, may actually act the same, but remember it is an act that they really do want to be true. In reality, your spouse is coming back home to heal. He/she is wounded mentally and emotionally. You can check out their bodies and it will look the same, no wounds or bullet holes, but they are wounded just the same, inside the mind, inside the heart.

You may be just talking innocently about something and all of a sudden for no reason that you can think of he/she explodes, or just out of the blue he/she is in a rage and you do not know why.  Neither actually do they. It does not really matter why at that point. It can either make you mad or flatly hurt your feelings. NOW IS THE TIME to shut up, listen, and do not take this personally.  He/she may even just wake up in a rage thinking they are back in Iraq. Never, never approach him while he is sleeping by touching or grabbing him. You might really get hurt physically yourself. Yep very bad idea! Thankfully I did follow that advice myself, as my husband experienced those flashbacks. He even sometimes felt guilty about being home rather than being back there in Iraq, still helping out.

Your feelings will be stomped on, smashed and hurt, probably for the first year that they are back, and probably a lot. (So will his/hers) It is all right for you to have hurt feelings. It is all right for you to get mad. But I want you to remember one thing.  CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES WISELY. Also, timing is everything. During the time your loved one (and you must remember he/she is still your loved one even during these times), is having this fit, that this is not the time to confront, or yell back or try to get your point across. Most of the time when they go into these rages of madness, it is not even about you. It is about what they have experienced.  They have seen some horrific things, dead bodies, wounded friends, and have experienced hearing mortars fired into their surroundings
daily. They have seen the results of those things we only hear about occasionally, IED's going off and tearing up machinery, tearing up people, and getting fired at and on by the enemy. This did not happen just occasionally. This happened every single day including Sunday. No wonder his/her nerves are frazzled and his instincts are still in warrior mode ready to fight or defend. They should be.

The reason a lot of the guys want to get back with their Army buddies that they went over with and even just go hang out with them is because they understand what each other went through, and the families do not. They feel they can talk to each other with understanding without having to explain themselves or talk about the actual experiences. Sometimes families ask questions. Do not force your loved one to talk about "it". This will all come when it is time. Kids sometimes ask "Wow, did you kill anybody?" Bad question!  Wrong question! Your loved one needs your protection from this at this time. Give him/her a chance to heal.

You now have the hardest job of all. You need to make your home a safe place for  him/her to heal, and let them know they can trust you to help them through it all. This generally falls to the wife, the mother, the nurturer. There are going to be times you will wish that they were back in Iraq. Sometimes they will think it would just be easier if they would leave. Well, in reality yes it would, but we are dealing here with saving our marriage, rebuilding our relationship and being there for our very hurt loved one. Always remember, this is the person I fell in love with, and he/she needs me now like he/she has never needed me before. And, you wonder, what about me? Will I ever have a normal life again? Yes, you will, it will come. Again I say choose your battles wisely. When the storm and rage is over talk it through with him calmly. Sometimes, they cannot talk about their experiences for a long time, but you can talk to him/her about not taking it out on you at that time. My husband has been home a year and a month and is just now getting to where he can talk about his experiences without getting depressed.  The main thing for you to know is that you will have hurt feelings, and be mad at times, and this is normal and it is ok.

You need to talk to your children and prepare them that daddy is not going to be the same, and even help them to know when they might need to back off. Even if you have to come up with signals that only you and the kids know.

There are even going to be times when he is going to deal with the kids and you will think he/she is wrong, but will have to back him/her up. You will think to yourself "What does he think he is doing? He hasn't been with the kids, I have. He doesn't even understand what they are going through, I do." but it is very important to not make him/her look bad in front of the kids, or undermine his authority even if it feels like he is undermining yours. You can talk to him/her privately later. Be a team. The kids need to see you be a team, he needs to be part of the team, and actually so do you.

Remember the finances might be another problem source. When he/she comes home they might want to go shopping. Something they have not been able to do during this past year. Be prepared to endure this.  If possible go over the finances as soon as you can so he/she will know what they can do. After all, they feel like I have been sacrificing all year, so it is my turn to go out and get something I want.

You may have made plans for you two to go to the two of your favorite place and he/she does not want to go. Do not let this hurt your feelings.

Do talk to your loved one. Keep the lines of communication open, without fighting. This will be hard on your part because he/she may want to fight at that moment, but they really do not want to fight with you, their loved one, the one they cannot wait to get back home to and who is their security. He/she has not yet learned how to put that rage on a shelf, as it is not going to happen overnight. He/she needs your help and patience so together you can put the trauma, the rage, even the fears that were felt on that shelf. He/she has gone through mental and emotional trauma. This trauma never goes away, but with your help and support it can be set aside so you and your family can go on as a normal functioning family. It is a matter of you two learning how to communicate again with each other. He has had to communicate as a warrior this past year, not as a loving husband or father. He has had to survive, and he is still in a survivor mode mindset.

I have heard some women say, "Well, he had just better straighten himself up!" It is not a matter of him straightening himself up, he has to relearn how to communicate with you as well as you have to relearn how to communicate with him/her to let him/her know that our marriage and our relationship is still worth it. You will at this time have to learn to relinquish some of the authority that you have grown used to, and he/she will have to relearn how to take it back fairly. Remember how it is when you have gained 5 pounds and you are trying to fit back into those jeans. Sometimes it takes a few weeks and patience to lose that weight and fit into those jeans. It does not happen overnight. We live in an instant society, but there is no instant fix in this case. If you can make it through this next year, it will be so rewarding.

You may have a friend or two that you talk through things with. Be careful even then, as you do not want to say things that will make your loved one look bad. You will forget and forgive, others will not. If you can find a friend who is going through the same thing as you are, that might help. I do know that I prayed for patience and wisdom, and turning to God was a great source of strength for me.  I have lived through this and survived it, and you can too. My husband and I have been married 43 years. We have too much invested in each other to let it go. Even one year is an investment in your marriage or relationship and is worth the time it takes to work things out.

This letter is not written for instruction. I wrote this for information from experience. It is so much better to fight for your marriage the right way, than to give up and get out. That really is not an answer, but sadly it does happen. That only adds trauma to you, the kids, and to him/her. If you can overcome, and I know it can be done, you will actually be happy and complete again with your partner. The job of the terrorist is to destroy. If he can destroy your family he has won.

Signed,
Been There and Made It Through

Betsy Reed is the wife of KBR convoy commander, Paul Reed.  Paul's story, "Only You Know" can be read at www.uglypuppy.net.

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Personal Responsibility and Pride in Service
Category: News and Politics

Personal Responsibility and Pride in Service

Renee E. Taylor

October 24, 2006

On October 16, 2006, the Boston Globe published an article by Farah Stockman titled "US Contractors in Iraq Face Peril, Neglect".  Stockman cites in the article as her sources Cindy Morgan, former reefer driver in Iraq and author of the book "Cindy in Iraq"; Jana Crowder, owner of www.americancontractorsiniraq.com; as well as drivers who have been injured while driving in Iraq.  Each states that there is no support system in place for drivers who have been injured in Iraq or suffer from "post traumatic stress disorder" or PTSD – a common claim from some returning contractors.

Kellogg, Brown and Root is a private company whose experience with working on military contracts dates back to World War Two, building the Corpus Christi, Texas, Naval Air Station, as well as a series of warships for the US Navy.  KBR is not the military, nor should anyone attending orientation and reading the extensive documentation and employee information come away with that assumption.  While the military has a structured system for dealing with war time injuries and mental illness, the same can be said of KBR, if one reads the information received at orientation.

KBR policy regarding sick time is noted in the Theater Transportation Mission Manual, dated July 2003, and given to each truck driver in theater, is as follows:

It is essential that any work related injury be reported and tracked through the In Country Safety Department who will co-ordinate with the Houston Support Office Health/Safety Environmental Manager because of the complexities of the rules that govern reporting and tracking of work related injuries and associated compensation.  The Houston Office handles compensation claims under the Defense Base Act Insurance.

The injured worker must be unable to earn employee's full usual pay for at least three days as a result of the injury before being entitled to DBA Insurance compensation.

If the injured worker returns to full work at any time up to seventy two hours from the time the injury was incurred, the DBA coverage provided is for medical services and supplies only, unless a permanent, partial disability results.  Therefore, the days of work missed during that seventy two hours may be paid at eight hours per day for sick leave provided the employee has earned sick leave as identified in the sick leave paragraph above.

If the disability last more than seven days, then the DBA compensation is paid from the first day of disability.  This disability is compensated at 66 2/3 of the employee's average weekly wage prior to the injury, subject to a weekly maximum.

Once KBR is made aware of the incident or illness, a claim is filed with the Defense Base Act insurance carrier, AIG, on the employee's behalf.  It is AIG's, not KBR's, responsibility to determine compensability and administer all aspects of the claim.  Any unresolved disputes are referred to the US Department of Labor. 

Additionally, KBR employees have access to services from the company's Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  This information is given to each employee in their employee information during orientation.  This information is also posted in every office in theater.  The program is available to employees and family members via telephone – including special phone lines set up in the Iraq theater of operations and the Internet.

PTSD is a mental health diagnosis that meets the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV criteria.  Current and former employees, according to KBR's statement to National Public Radio on May 25, 2006, seeking care for PTSD may make a claim under the provisions of the Defense Base Act (DBA).  Determining the compensability of those claims is solely the responsibility of the US Department of Labor, which administers the DBA program.  For those employees who do not meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, employees may easily access counseling resources through the above mentioned EAP program, which was established in 1980.  For situations beyond what the EAP handles, the employee has access to his or her private insurance.  For former employees, there is the option of maintaining COBRA coverage after separation from KBR.  However, it is up to the individual employee to continue and pay for such coverage.

In the cases where an employee or former employee disputes the discontinuation of insurance benefits or lack thereof, the American court system is in place.  One only needs to locate an attorney willing to take a workman's compensation claim on a contingency basis.  There are also some, such as Gary Pitts who is mentioned in the Boston Globe article, that specialize in DBA claims.

It is clear that the claims of lack of a support system made by Stockman in her article are unsubstantiated.  As with any company and insurer, KBR has in place a detailed, clear system for its employees and former employees.  It is up to the individual, however, to read the material and be familiar with it.

Another aspect that Stockman apparently failed to acknowledge in her article is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).  All CDL holders seeking employment from a trucking company and the companies themselves are subject to the strict rules and regulations set forth by the FMCSA.  As the Boston Globe articles states, former KBR truck driver, David Meredith "cannot drive a truck because of the medication he takes for PTSD".  According to the FMCSA's safety regulations, Section 391.41 (b) (9), there are restrictions put upon drivers who are suffering from various mental conditions.  Additionally, the side effects of the medications one is on for such conditions is to be taken into consideration.  According to Ms. Stockman in a telephone call on October 24, 2006, she did not research the possibility that Mr. Meredith's inability to obtain employment as a truck driver was due to FMCSA regulations.  At this point, it would no longer be a KBR or DBA insurance issue.  It would be an issue of finding another line of work.  It is common in the trucking industry for drivers to be diagnosed with illnesses that force them to cease driving.  However, if they are able to work in a different profession, than disability does not apply.  This should also be the case here.

There is no dispute that the stress of war effects each and every man and woman in combat.  There is also no dispute that Iraq became a "trucker's war", as insurgents targeted supply convoys on a regular basis.  There has yet to be a case proven where the military did not perform their duties as escorts for our KBR truck drivers according to procedures, regardless of claims made in the Boston Globe article.

An obvious omission by Stockman and others writing about truckers with PTSD is the fact that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has the final say on who can drive a truck in the states.  It is not KBR's nor the DBA's responsibility if a driver is deemed unable to obtain the necessary medical certification to operate an 80,000 pound vehicle on America's highways.

With arbitration guidelines in place within the insurance and legal systems, one must wonder what type of "support" is being sought from KBR.  It is not the responsibility of any employer to provide an employee with financial assistance beyond what workman's compensation issues.  As stated above, if an employee disputes the discontinuation of benefits, he or she can enter the legal system.  It is also not the responsibility of KBR to continue to provide benefits for a former employee who no longer meets the qualifications of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

It has become obvious in the media that research and fact checking is not as important as the "human interest" side of a story.  If one is going to write about the trucking industry, than the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations are a necessary part of the fact checking process.  Ms. Stockman acknowledged in a recent phone call she had not considered this in her story.  It was an issue of "non-support" for contractors.

KBR truckers faced the possibility of death at every turn.

Photo by Mark R. Taylor

According to Ms. Stockman, stories about drivers with no "bad experience" from KBR are not "newsworthy".  What constitutes a "bad experience"?  A majority of drivers faced the possibility of death at every turn.  They watched as their friends died in combat.  Trucks destroyed, they continued on the mission, determined to fight another day and deliver the next load of mail, fuel and supplies.  The men you do not hear about are the ones who came home to their families, got jobs and carried on with their lives.  Memories haunt them and the effect of war is not lost.  Knowing they did their job in Iraq well, they adjusted their lives.  Some can no longer drive at night, some cannot drive at all.  They improvise and overcome.

Pvt Ira Stanfield

File courtesy of Elois Stanfield Taylor

In World War Two, Private Ira Stanfield was seriously wounded at Okinawa.  The only thing to keep him alive to return to his wife and small daughter was the body of a dead Japanese soldier.  Stanfield was sent home, legs scarred and battered.  Without expecting any more than the medical services provided by the Veteran's Administration for his injuries, Stanfield did not sit back and feel sorry for himself.  Having to learn to walk again, he determined to survive.  In today's climate, it would be expected that he whine to the media about his disability.  However, Stanfield found work at a saw mill and eventually formed his own successful business.  He saw three children through college.  He knew the sacrifices he made were not in vain.  It is with the same determination and self respect that his grandson, Convoy Commander Mark R. Taylor, Convoy Commander Paul Reed Convoy Commander Eric Whiting and countless other contractors went to Iraq and served.  They have come home and offered their time to share their experiences with other drivers.

The question remains – what kind of support is expected?  With the system in place for medical claims and issues, it cannot be that.  With the Yahoo groups for contractors, various blogs and other outlets, the opportunity to talk with peers is available.  There is a lot of discussion, but no attempt at a solution.  Perhaps it is because the solution is personal responsibility and a little hard work.  The fact remains that the media is using the American contractor in their anti-Halliburton, pre-election agenda.  There are those who are media savvy, admitting that if they say the right words – whether true or not – they will be "part of the story".  But, their stories are filled only with complaints, finger pointing and no "solution to the problem", which has yet to be identified.

The problem I see is not contractors suffering from PTSD, but media types with an agenda against Halliburton/KBR and those who will willingly or unwillingly be a pawn in the propaganda war.  Complaining and demands for unnamed, unsubstantiated claims for "support" from Halliburton fit the agenda of the media.  Courage in battle and mission successes do not.  If our generation were like that of Pvt. Stanfield, willing to take responsibility and pride in service, there would be no "story". 

Renee Taylor is the wife of former KBR convoy commander, Mark R. Taylor, and runs a news/support group for contractors and civilians, groups.yahoo.com.groups/Uglypuppy and the website www.uglypuppy.net .  A freelance writer, photographer and former truck driver, she has devoted her time to studying convoy operations and promoting the positive image of the American Trucker in Iraq.  The Taylors live in South Arkansas.

Resources:

  www.boston.com

  www.halliburton.com

  www.npr.org

  Kellogg Brown and Root LOGCAP III Orientation Manual

  Kellogg Brown and Root LOGCAP III Theater Transportation Mission Manual

  www.fmcsa.dot.gov

  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations Handbook

  KBR Statement on Truck Drivers in Iraq

  Stanfield Family History

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BOLO - Adnan el Shukrijumah
Category: News and Politics

BOLO – Adnan el Shukrijumah

By Mark R. Taylor

     Renee E. Taylor

October 17, 2006

Featured on America's Most Wanted in May, June and September 2004, Adnan el Shukrijumah – aka Jafar the Pilot - is wanted by the FBI (view the FBI alert here: http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/elshukrijumah.htm) for questioning regarding terrorist activities.  Shukrijumah has eluded authorities and blended into the general population. 

Shukrijumah is a chameleon, able to change his appearance in order to evade capture.  Using alias such as Adnan G. el Shukri Jumah, Abu Arif, Ja'far Al-Tayar, Jaffar Al-Tayyar, Jafar Tayar, Jaafar Al-Tayyar, he is the son of the late Guishair el Shukrijumah.  A native of Guyana, Guishair worked in Saudi Arabia for 27 years as an expatriate employee before moving his family to the United States in 1986.  According to his June 13, 2004, obituary, Guishair led a New York City mosque attended by at least one of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing suspects before retiring to Florida.

Federal officials began exploring links between Adnan el Shukrijumah and Jose Padilla, a former Floridian arrested in 2003 for allegedly plotting to detonate a radioactive bomb. 

Adnan el Shukrijumah was born in Guyana on August 4, 1975, the son of 44 year old Guishair – a radical Muslim cleric – and his 16 year old wife.  After leaving Saudi Arabia, the family lived in Brooklyn where the father was Imam of the Farouq Mosque, known as a recruiting station for al Qaeda.  Upon moving to Florida, where the father was spiritual leader of the radical Hajah Mosque and Imam of the Boca Ration Islamic Center, the younger el Shukrijumah befriended Padilla, as well as Imran Mandai, who was convicted of attempting to blow up nuclear power plants in Florida and Moessa Shuyeb Jojham, arrested for plotting to blow up Jewish community centers and businesses. 

Attending flight schools in Florida and Norman, Oklahoma, along with Mohammed Atta and other 9-11 terrorists, he became a skilled commercial jet pilot.  It is also noted that, after meeting with Al Qaeda officials in Panama, he obtained an associates degree in computer engineering from Broward Community College.

Shukrijumah attracted the attention of the FBI in March 2001 after special agents in Miami began an investigation of the Danul Uloom Institute and Islamic Training center in Pembroke Pines, Florida.  Imran Mandai stated his terrorist cell would target electric substations, Jewish institutions and other high-value targets.

Debka, the internet outlet for Israeli intelligence, states that Shukrijumah was under surveillance in Canada regarding the disappearance of 180 pounds of nuclear material from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.  A spokesman for McMaster University declined to comment on the case to the Canada Free Press.  However, they denied any knowledge of al Qaeda on their campus or the disappearance of radioactive material, although Shukrijumah's appearance in the area has been verified and the school had experienced radioactive leakage.

There is growing concern over an extended stay in Mexico by Shukrijumah and his activities there in 2004.  Shukrijumah has been named by several captured al Qaeda operatives as being involved in possible nuclear attacks on the <