Justin Shreck. The men got lost on the evening of March 30 and eventually found a Marine base near Falluja where they slept for a few hours. During training, McQuown would often improperly instruct the class or provide erroneous information, tactics or techniques, the suit alleges. Erik Prince, himself, for this piece I worked with the Center for Public Integrity, and we put together a profile of Erik Princes familys political contributions. In early 2004 Helvenston was between jobs and was eking out a living with the stints on reality TV, the movie consulting and the fitness videos. They could have easily traveled this route in a single day, and it would have been extremely less dangerous. This is a billion-dollar industry, Jackson said in October 2004. They were escorting three empty trucks on their way to pick up some kitchen equipment at a base west of Fallujah. You can read our Privacy Policy here. And Scott wrote in this email to Blackwater, that I think [that my team leader] felt that there was a hidden agenda. We speak with Jeremy Scahill as well as Katy Helvenston, the mother of Scott Helvenston who was killed in Fallujah, and the attorney in the case, Marc Miles. JEREMY SCAHILL: Per day. To submit a correction for our consideration, click here. He was dead. The families of the four men killed at Fallujah have filed a lawsuit charging the company with wrongful death. So, essentially, they had G.P.S. AMY GOODMAN: Jeremy Scahill, thank you for being with us. And if you stop and you think about it, thats the size of some small towns here in America. The suit further alleges that McQuown intervened and ordered only a four-man team be sent, although six were available, the other two remaining to perform clerical duties. And they did approach the Zovkos and asked if they would meet Erik Prince in his office, and they did. The fact that [McQuown]was being exposed infuriated him. Scotts mother believes, based on Scotts e-mails and conversations with contractors who served with her son, that McQuown feared that Scott might replace him at the company. Is it your sense that this is an isolated situation that happened with these men, or are you exploring the possibility that there have been systematic problems with the way these contractors have been handling security? We had argued about him going over there, she recalls. In an expose in the new issue of the Nation magazine, independent journalist Jeremy Scahill tells the story of the struggle of the four families of the slain Blackwater contractors to hold those responsible for their deaths accountable. Scott Helvenston Net Worth 2023: Wiki Bio, Married, Dating, Family Social:Helvenston v. Blackwater Security - HandWiki After his talk, he took questions from students at the school. One of the people profiled in the story is Katy Helvenston, the mother of 38-year-old Scott Helvenston, who was killed on that day in Fallujah. They have no respect for the families. Heres Why. Well, Scotty chose the military, and he wanted to continue his education through that. Had they been, I sincerely believe that theyd be alive today. These men and women are never included in the death tolls provided by the Pentagon or reported on in the media. He was exceptional. Helvenston began training at Blackwater USA's facilities in March 2004, and developed a personal conflict with head trainer Justin "Shrek" McQuown. They say Blackwater refused to redraft the contract. Justin McQuowns nickname, according to documents weve gotten and to other people who were in Kuwait and Iraq at the time, was Shrek, after the green ogre character, and it doesnt sound like he was too popular of a guy and really sort of targeted Scott Helvenston. KBR/Halliburton refuses to discuss the matter and will not confirm any relationship with ESS. They were standing outside our rooms when we got up in the morning. They were not provided with the six folks that they were supposed to have in each vehicle. MARTIN SMITH: By the time the press arrived, a mob had set the cars on fire. Blackwater has fought to have the case dismissed by claiming that all liability lies not with the company but the U.S. government. Blackwater founder Erik Prince personally delivered money to some of the families for funeral expenses, and the company moved to get the mens wives and children benefits under the governments Defense Base Act, which in some cases insures those on contract supporting US military operations abroad. AMY GOODMAN: That was President Bush at Johns Hopkins, answering no, not a reporters question a students question. So I sent Blackwater about 23 specific questions, and from that first email that Chris Taylor sent me, I never heard back. I mean, Scotty excelled at anything he attempted, and he always had to be the best. But Blackwater was not aware of that. He said, Give us a map. And they said, Youre going to have to wing it.. Katy Helvenston, your response? Jeremy, lets begin with you. KATY HELVENSTON: I called Blackwater at about 7:00 at night. Copyright (c) 2023 The Nation Company LLC, By signing up, you confirm that you are over the age of 16 and, agree to receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support. Jane how to behave like Navy Seals. Lay out this story. He is currently a Puffin Writing Fellow at the Nation Institute. According to the suit, McQuown lacked the credentials of Helvenston and other ex-SEALs. And this Justin McQuown was the instructor there at Moyock, and he was outraged that Scott had the audacity to even suggest that there was a better way. And the email, its incredible, because Scott sort of makes all these apologetics. And that night he was ordered to change teams and go into Fallujah. My family wouldnt let me read any of the articles, they were so graphic. On the one hand, you have the allegations that Blackwater systematically defrauded these men by not providing them with the armored vehicles, the weapons, the adequate personnel for the mission, the opportunity to do a pre-trip risk assessment, etc., all the things that Marc Miles has laid out. Justin received a Bachelor of Science degree from . Since the team was driving without a rear-gunner and did not have armored vehicles, the insurgents were able to literally walk up behind the vehicles and shoot all four men with small arms at close range, the suit alleges. But then, the other component to this is that the lawsuit alleges that this Blackwater manager, Justin McQuown, because of his personal animosity toward Scott Helvenston the lawsuit and Katy characterize it as Justin McQuown resented Scott. Jane movie, and he ended up playing a small role on the film, because the guy that was supposed to play the Navy Seal instructor was terrified of the ocean. covers war or gun violence, were not brought to you by the weapons manufacturers. MARTIN SMITH: Around 9:30 a.m., they approached the center of town. And, Mr. President, how do you propose to bring private military contractors under a system of law? Blood Is Thicker Than Blackwater | The Nation Helvenston et al. MARC MILES: I wouldnt be surprised if there are other incidents like this. By the time I got the message hed already been killed., Shortly after Helvenston left that message, the men left the base and set out for their destination. And I said, Well, youve already written a report. He spent 12 years in the Navy SEALs until he left in 1994 as an E-6 (Quartermaster First Class).Helvenston began training at Blackwater USA's facilities in March 2004, and developed a personal conflict with head trainer Justin "Shrek" McQuown. Username. AMY GOODMAN: Each of you in separate hotels? And Donna, she misunderstood where this money was coming from. The suit alleges that there were six guards available that day, but McQuown intervened and ordered only the four to be sent. Helvenston v. Blackwater Security - Alchetron, the free social encyclopedia It is regrettable and inaccurate to suggest that Mr. McQuown contributed in any way to this terrible tragedy.. Suit Alleges | Technology Trends Jeremy ScahillTwitterJeremy Scahill is the author of the best-selling Blackwater: The Rise of the Worlds Most Powerful Mercenary Army, published by Nation Books. Its that the United States has opened Iraqs door to mercenaries who roam the country with impunity. And the guard that was in charge of me, I said, You know, you really need to do something about these helicopters. You know, and he left for a minute or two, and finally the helicopters went away. And whats important here is that the lawsuit alleges that because of Justin McQuowns personal animosity toward Scott Helvenston, he intervened to have only four men sent, that only four were sent on Justin McQuowns order that day, instead of six, and the other two were held back to perform clerical duties in the Blackwater facility in Baghdad. And just like any town in America of 20,000 to 30,000 folks, youre going to have situations where there are crimes committed and wrongful conduct. Also with us, attorney Marc Miles, who joins us from studio in Irvine, California. AMY GOODMAN: At the memorial service for your son? Why cant I have it tomorrow? And I said, Are you going to rewrite it for my eyes only? I mean and I never did get that report. 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AMY GOODMAN: Months later. And so, they didnt know what they were getting into. And, in fact, the first day that they set out, they were so lost and it was getting late that they ended up staying at an army base on the east side of Fallujah. But today, Blackwater is facing a potentially devastating battlethis time not in Iraq but in court. So they announced there was going to be a memorial service after you made the call to the head of Blackwater, asking for an incident report.
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