S.C. residents at work in Iraq

Recent deaths emphasize dangers of working in war zone

By CHUCK CRUMBO

Despite the spiraling violence, scores of South Carolinians are working in Iraq for companies that do everything from building powerlines to serving chow at U.S. military bases.

No one knows just how many S.C. residents are in Iraq working for independent contractors.

The Defense Department doesn’t keep track of those numbers, a spokesman said Wednesday. It’s up to the individual companies to provide that information.

Halliburton, the largest contractor, has about 120 South Carolinians among its 24,000 workers in Iraq and Kuwait, a spokeswoman said.

But most companies, citing security reasons, withhold information about their employees, including what state they live in.

“I hope you understand our reluctance to talk specifically about these subjects,” said Chris Bertelli, spokesman for Blackwater Security Consulting of North Carolina.

Four Blackwater employees were killed March 31 and their bodies mutilated by angry mobs in Fallujah.

The beheading of 26-year-old Nicholas Berg, reported Tuesday, showed again just how dangerous Iraq is for Americans.

Workers can make $100,000 a year tax free, working in the war zone. But they also can pay dearly.

On Friday, for instance, a 56-year-old Summerville man, Daniel Griffin Parker, died after a bomb exploded near his convoy in Baghdad. Parker was a contract worker for Halliburton.

In November, Charles Rose of Orangeburg, was seriously wounded in a shooting incident.

Rose, who worked for Irmo-based International American Products Worldwide Services, declined to comment Wednesday on the Berg killing. “I appreciate you calling, but if you don’t mind I’d rather not make any statements,” Rose said.

International American has a federal contract to restore electricity girds and power-plant generators. That contract could be worth up to $500 million over the next five years, according to the Center for Public Integrity, a Defense Department watchdog.

From: http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/8653783.htm