At least 11 of its employees have been killed in Iraq. ", Helvenston also described a clash with other Blackwater personnel, who he wrote had the attitude: "Let's see if we can screw with Scotty. Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. [5] Blackwater signed a revised contract with Regency on March 12, 2004 that removed the word "armored". It would be nice to know if they had to answer to anyone besides God.". Scott Helvenston, 38, had signed on with Blackwater USA, a private security firm based in North Carolina, for a short stint in Iraq. airline pilot retirement age 70; roy sullivan death plainfield, nj; golden state warriors number 63 paul; how to auto sync photos to sound on tiktok; iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me; their children Kyle, 14, and Kelsey, 12. Donna Zovko stands next to her son's headstone. "Had they had no armored vehicle but the third person with his eyes open looking backward, they could've taken defensive action.". Since she has been held in juvenile detention, Helvenston graduated with honors from Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Im glad its over. Photos of the event, showing jubilant Iraqis posing with the charred corpses, were then released to news agencies worldwide, which caused a great deal of indignation in the United States. Owner of Fitness Company Amphibian Athletics. [1], The four armed contractors, Scott Helvenston, Jerry Zovko, Wesley Batalona, and Mike Teague, were killed and dragged from their vehicles. He stood to make about $600 a day in Iraq for Blackwater. Maybe he'll tell me the truth," she says. In 1982, he received special permission to join the U.S. Navy and, at 17, he became the youngest Navy SEAL in U.S. history. Blackwater hired prominent Washington attorney Ken Starr and fought the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing federal and not state courts should hear lawsuits stemming from dangerous deployments by contractors supporting U.S. military operations. They have asked for the lawsuit to be dismissed. He spent the latter part of his junior year at what is now the Bill Duncan Opportunity Center in Lakeland, an alternative school for students with discipline problems. [3][4][5] Seven months later, in November 2004, a second attempt at capturing the city, the Second Battle of Fallujah, proved successful. Their bodies were beaten and Beast and Combat Missions. Last year, with two children and an ex-wife to support, Helvenston signed on with Blackwater for $600 a day. Who's still together? "They said we'd have to sue them, so OK, we're gonna sue you.". In the difficult year after losing her son, Helvenston-Wettengel says she sought out more details about what really happened last March 31. "How did you get him off you?" The images were seen around the world. Three yellow roses sat next to the headstone with a hand-written note: "Happy Birthday Jerry.". Helvenston-Wettengel, at home in Florida, watched in horror as the gruesome images of bodies flashed on the news. Mothers Say Mistakes Led to Fallujah Tragedy - ABC News If some are killed, it replaces them at a moment's notice.". What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? "During my short tenure here with Blackwater I have witnessed and endured some extreme unprofessionalism. But as the hours passed, she knew something was terribly wrong with her son. All logos and trademarks presented are property of their respective owner. Instead, according to this mother, Helvenston was sent out on convoy duty, protecting a load of kitchen supplies. Helvenston, who was not a party to the lawsuit, said he read parts of the settlement but doesnt know all the details. Navy SEAL in U.S. history. LEESBURG - Katy Helvenston-Wettengel is barely 5 feet tall, with a cozy kitchen more likely to crank out apple pies than an assault on a private army. Helvenston-Wettengel, though, has been buoyed by recent court rulings that have not let Blackwater off the hook yet. Survivors of the contractors contend Blackwater failed to prepare the men for their mission into Fallujah in March 2004 and didnt provide them with maps and other appropriate equipment. [] Famous People Who Died By Gunshot - Ranker Specifically, the Pentagon doesn't even know how many of these guys are working for them, let alone what they're doing in these cases.".
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