I just received this email from a reader. I have not verified the authenticity of the original email (my disclaimer) but it appears to be authentic. (UPDATE-I have received a copy of the original email with the header info and I have updated below.) I have also not been able to verify the date of the rape, but am deducing it occurred on Nov 30, 2009. (UPDATE-The date in fact was Nov 30, 2009 and the time was approx 10-11 am) In an effort to help you understand this email, I have described the acronyms used in parentheses. A Life Support Area (LSA) is a collection of living quarters consisting of buildings, tents, or trailers (CHU’s)Other than that, I have made no changes to the email.
As you read this keep in mind this is not the first brutal rape that has occurred in Iraq.
Subject: Rape of a KBR female at JBB (UNCLASSIFIED)
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Some of you may have already heard about a report of a rape occurring 1100 Monday at JBB (Joint Base Balad-Balad, Iraq), in the KBR LSA (Life Support Area). This is particularly disturbing in that it happened in broad daylight, to an employee sleeping in her CHU (Containerized Housing Unit-trailer) after pulling night shift duty, possibly assailed by a maintenance worker that might have had a key to the CHU.
Some conjecture, but I’m painting a picture for us to be careful towards. The victim is in intensive care, face badly beaten, and arm possibly broken.
Please pass this to all J7 members through your own methods, and to the dangers even in broad daylight, and possibly by those having access to our CHUs. Though at JBB, VBC (Camp Victory) reportedly has between 8-20 sexual assaults per week…What might not be known is that statistically, 70-80% of these assaults are by an EODT (EOD Technologies) or KBR member, so stats are stats, please be aware of what to look out for.
SGM (Sergeant Major)- Let’s please talk tomorrow about buddy rules for females and actually all Servicemembers, Government Civilians and contractors. Thanks…
R
LTC K
JEFFREY S. KING
LTC, EN
USF-I J-7 CoS
DSN 485-2058
SVOIP 242-0193
AKO: jeffrey.s.king@us.army.mil
SIPR: jeffrey.s.king@iraq.centcom.smil.mil
AKO-S: jeffrey.s.king@us.army.smil.mil—–Original Message—–
From: Guy LaBoa [mailto:Guy.LaBoa@kbr.com]
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 3:32 PM
To: (Removed for Privacy of Recipients)
Subject: Rape of a KBR female at approximately 1100hrs 30Nov2009 at JBBFIRST REPORT
For all:
At approximately 1100hrs, Roger Singleton the acting PM (Project Manager) for JBB called with a report of a Sexual Assault (Rape) of a Female KBR Expat in the KBR LSA at JBB. The employee was in her Chu a sleep. She works the night shift in the HQ (Headquarters) operations cell. The employee was severely injured; her face was very badly beaten and may have a broken arm. She has worked with KBR 14months. She is currently in the hospital at JBB in intensive care. She has stated she did not know how the individual got into her room but she did not open the door. Apparently, on Thursday, a man knocked on her door and posed as a tradesman inspecting the Chu, she questions why he was there but did not report the incident. This lead is being follow up.
CID (Army Criminal Investigation Command) and Base Military Command have been notified. The appropriate actions for lock down and control of all personnel leaving the base have been taken. A 100% accountability check of our personnel with eyes on each person is complete The SCW (subcontract workers) subcontractors have been notified and are conducting a 100% accountability check . The victim has reported that she did scratch and bite the assailant. Some evidence has been recovered which may help identify the assailant who she has described a light skinned Indian male.
Roger Singleton acting PM is taking actions to ensure that all our female personnel are properly protected as they return to the Chu’s tonight and as them move around the base until this incident is closed and the assailant is caught.
Guy
Regards,
Guy LaBoa
Principal Program Manager
KBR LOGCAP III
Victory #43382
APO, AE 09344
Office: 281-669-5600
DSN: 485-3697
When I hear about a rape in Iraq I think of Jamie Leigh Jones, LaVena Johnsen or Tina Priest. But there are so many more.
If you have any information regarding this crime please come forward. I would also like the original of this email forwarded to me with date stamps and names.
Ms Sparky
I heard at Camp Speicher in about 2005/2006 there was Ops Manager who had control of keys to employee CHUs, he was allegedly using these keys to unlock and enter women’s CHU’s. He supposedly attacked four KBR women. The women allegedly reported this to KBR management who did nothing. He had already been transferred (and promoted) to Speicher after assaulting a woman at Camp Victory. Another example of KBR protecting their mangers. His initials are JA.
Not The First One, (and anyone else with information about this horrible rape and the conditions leading up to it) please contact my office with more information. I represent this victim, and would like to speak with you. 713-255-2055
I am so glad this victim contacted you! She is wise. For those who are not aware, Todd Kelly also represents Jamie Leigh Jones and several other females who have fallen victim to many KBR managers “alleged” harassment and discrimination in Iraq. (although I feel in my soul these women were victimized, I have to say alleged until the courts decide)
I would like to say “Ms Sparky” readers are awesome and they come through with information that is needed. If you have any information that would help this rape victim, please contact Todd. If you wish to forward information and remain anonymous, email me by clicking on the “contact us” tab and I will tell you how to do that.
J.A. ???? We need names not abbreviations. Contact Miss Sparky directly.
I got the name. I actually edited the comment to take the name out and I just put initials. I have heard this particular story many times. I’m not trying to protect a pervert, just trying to keep my attorney from having a coronary. I wonder if he would bill me for that!
I hope this victim will contact an attorney ASAP. She needs to make sure HER rights are protected.
She might consider Todd Kelly in Houston. He is Jamie Leigh Jones attorney has made amazing headway with regards to this secret binding arbitration issue.
My personal message to this victim. KBR attorneys are NOT your attorney’s. They are obligated by law to protect the interests of KBR not you. Your boss and co-workers may very well care very much about you. But KBR attorney’s run the show.
Get representation ASAP. If you need assistance contact me and I will help you get in touch.
Here is some info on EOD Technology, Inc.:
“We deliver our services on a global scale in high-risk areas. Whether our customers require mine action, IT/communications, convoy, canine, life support or range support, we deliver success.”
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/-/2558/801934/-/item/0/-/8u0mi4/-/index.html
http://projects.publicintegrity.org/wow/bio.aspx?act=pro&ddlC=19
Thanks. I haven’t had much time to “google” them!
Rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and interpersonal violence ALWAYS escalate during a time of war, most particularly during ongoing occupations. And the majority of victims are in the service, married to, or working for the perpetrator. Since the wars began, at least 60% of women veterans have reported sexual harassment to community-based providers, and documented domestic violence rates in Killeen, TX, home to Ft. Hood, have increased by 75% since 2001. Every single military wife I know can name at least one person who has experienced some sort of physical abuse by her veteran. Most of the veterans today are active duty, and most of the wives I talk with weren’t afraid of their husbands prior to deployment(s), so very few reports are being filed – restricted or unrestricted. Combat operations, occupations, and unending tours ruin lives. Period. But let’s consider the genesis: if America wants war – and 76% of you did, and if, now, America doesn’t support the war(s), which the majority don’t; yet few are funding actions or taking to the streets, then we cannot proclaim innocence when the war comes home. Further, in a country that still views sexual assault as wink, wink, nudge, blame the victim, it should come as no surprise that extreme circumstances produce extreme results.
I just got this email myself… I’ve been home for a couple months and I am not surprised by this at all. Back in 2006 I was a night shift worker. Housing let a trades guy come in with no escort. I worked billeting, so I knew the rules. I was in the bathroom when the Trade guy came in thru the front door NO KNOCKING, or identifying himself. I screamed, and I demanded his name before I would let him in my hooch. I had my radio in my hand ready to go as well.
Back in 2008, I was walking home from the gym by myself like an idiot. I left the gym and noticed a guy that seemed to be following me, but I wasn’t sure. I changed my route to see if he was following. He was. He caught up with me and tried to talk to me. The guy was an Albanian soldier. I stopped in my tracks looked at him dead in the eyes and yelled WHAT. He says to me, I think you’re very beautiful I want your pu*sy. I was scared and pissed off as hell.
So what I did next, I mustered as much rage I could in my face and voice and yelled at him… I scared him good enough that he ran like a gazelle over the big rocks (MOSUL) towards the Albanian camp. I reported it to Security of course, but no one made a report or notified women on the camp about the guy. Needless to say, got my head out of my *** and made sure I used a vehicle. Oh, the reason I was walking, no vehicle was available to me at the time, not even a bus.
I’m glad you came out of that OK!!
There are some huge culture issue between the foreign national men and American women. I know for a fact that American men teach the foreign national men nasty things to say to American women so they can watch the show. I caught some of our American expats teaching the Iraqi men nasty words and phrases to say to American women. The Iraqi thought they were paying a compliment and the American men were laughing their heads off. Also….what most foreign national men know about American women is what they see in the movies and that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Amen! I believe that soldier was told to say that, because it was apparent to me that his English was poor. Plus the fact that I screamed I will cut your balls off may have done the trick.
I don’t recall the exact date, because after working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, all of our days run together. But I CAN tell you this. We were just returning from lunch around 1230pm when we had a 100% accountability call go out on the radios here in JBB. We assumed it was only a drill but after work, we found out a lady had been raped.
I have a hard time understanding how they let anyone leave or enter the base until the assailant was caught.
Back in the states, they would have had a total lock down of the ECP’s until a complete search had been conducted. This is NOT a KBR fault, it is a military fault. But to everyone’s surprise, business went on as usual for the remaining 90% of the camp.
As of today, Dec. 6th, he has still not been found…
Bob-Thanks for the update. I hope they haven’t let him get away!! Please keep us posted.
At this point in time we don’t know who is at fault. Did the rapist have access to the room keys? Was the lock or door broken or damaged with request to repair it ignored? If they ever find the rapist, were complaints filed against him in the past and just ignored? Did KBR contact the military as soon as they knew of the rape and request the check points be closed down? What was KBR’s response?
It appears they may have learned from their mistakes in handling the Jamie Leigh Jones rape and at least took this woman to the hospital. Hopefully the rape kit, photos, reports and witness statement won’t “accidentally”get “misplaced”.
This woman really needs an attorney with her. I would hope the DoD would offer her legal representation until she gets back to the States.
Ms Sparky-The females are undergoing major security upgrades in their living quarters since that woman was viciously raped in her room in Balad.
It’s interesting that since there has been yet ANOTHER rape and it’s all over the internet now that KBR is finally acting like they care about their women and after being in Iraq for 6 years they are looking at security for the women.
They are putting metal plates by the door handles on the womens rooms so now everyone knows which rooms belong to the women. That was another brilliant move on management’s part. I’m thinking about sending an e mail to point out the stupidity of that move. But if I do I will probably be sent home on the next flight.
Plus I’ve heard complaints that the metal plate on the doors are very sharp.
Safety first. Yeah right.
This is unbelievable. Why not install signs that state,,,”An unarmed female lives here!”
How did they install them? Did they just screw them on from the outside with screws? That’s easy enough to undo.
I would rather have them install a chain lock or sliding lock or even a dead bolt on the INSIDE of the doors. If emergency services ever needs to get in all they need to do is kick in the door. It’s all made out of cheap materials anyway!
The security upgrades have been implemented on all quarters now at Victory. I guess someone brought it to their attention that their thought process was a little flawed. Or maybe they read Ms Sparky.
I appreciate they (KBR) are trying to do something, finally. But like CHICK said and I agree….I believe it is as much of a key control protocol issue as anything.
Stuck at VBC, (and anyone else with information about this horrible rape and the conditions leading up to it) please contact my office with more information. Your information is critical to show that KBR did, in fact, have the ability to provide security to her, and simply failed to do so. It’s not like this was the first rape of one of their employees. I represent this victim, and would like to speak with you. 713-255-2055
The guy was supposedly caught and he had a key to the hooches. It was supposedly a Pakistani worker and it happened during the day when the girl was sleeping. She was a night shift worker working in Operations. She was beat up pretty badly and had to be flown to Germany. She is now back at the states. The issue at hand is key control. Why is anyone able to get a key? This should be a security controlled item.
Another mistake by KBR.
Thank for this info. This this needs to be verified. But brings up a very valid point about key control. That whole key control thing just used to make me crazy. The American expats would give a ring of keys to living quarters (trailers) to a group of Iraqi cleaners (Camp Hope in the Green Zone) and then send them on their way. They were supposed to supervise them but many times the American supervisor was no where to be found. I refused to l have anyone come in and clean my trailer and did it myself. But may times there was evidence that someone had been in my room while I was at work.
If you hear anymore please let us know.
I know for a fact that in Camp Hope there are 7 keys per room but at Speicher there were only 3 per room which made a lot more sense.
One key to a room is too many if EVERYONE and their dawg has access to it. When I lived at Camp Hope they seemed to be relatively good key control 2006….at least with the expats. Now I don’t know who all had access to the keys that no one questioned, like camp managers, the labor foreman who supervised the cleaners who cleaned the trailers, maintenance people, security etc.
I worked billeting 3 yrs C Sites… 3 keys was the standard. One for the occupant, one for the office and a spare for “temporary” locked myself out or lost the key. With billeting a lot of folks would claim they lost a key so they could give a copy to their “friend”. Standard procedure set up with KBR and the Client, key control DOP includes signing for the key and reason. Both were reportable to mayor cell if applicable or to Service Desk and logged in. To me for this Pakistanian guy to have the key, he perhaps had to work for Billeting or was a Trades guy that copied keys (locksmith?) or was a trade that never turned the key in. If Billeting did not keep proper records on the Key Book Register, more than one person needs to be fired for this incident due to job incompetence for failure to maintain records and escort their SCW to perform work. All the camps I’ve worked on, SCW’s, LNs must be escorted at all times. I know most of us can agree, this is failure at more than one level or with departments. I see a lot of people being let go once the investigation into key registers (failure to follow MSOW, SOW, SOP, DOP)and lack of secured key control (possible failure to report key recovery/copy and or changing locks when reported as Lost). Another thing that has to be looked at, who did this guy work for, why he wasn’t escorted… etc.
I hope this victim gets justice. May God bless her to a speedy recovery.
Justice is something that can never be gained in a situation like this. This poor woman will live with the horrors of what happened to her for the rest of her life. She will also be put thru holy hell again and agian before anyone actually pays for this crime, that is if they ever do convict anyone for it. I hope the man who did this will be made to pay for what he did. Will it be justice??? Is there a such thing???
I don’t know. i do agree with you. I hope she finds it someway, no matter how small, a consolation of some sort. This crime is too horrible to imagine or wish upon someone except to the predator himself. What I really wonder, if he’s Pakistani, where would he go? Would he go to the country that hired him? Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain and get a ticket back to Pakistan? I think that outcome is likely if that was to be the case. Or would the US have judicial right? This is very bad all around. Its a nightmare thinking of it diplomatically. This involves Pakistan, the M.E. community as a whole and the idea of bringing the man to the US for trial and Lord knows when US Congress gets involved! Its horrible, but I see her being forgotten and I doubt our country will go to major lengths to get this guy. Maybe the military would to some degree, but where, what and how could they give him a trial and where would he go?
I know with the Military, convicted civilian offenders go to Federal Prison for committing crimes on military and federal installations. I wonder would they consider JBB a federal installation or a JOIN FORCES installation? Joint Forces being… multinational.
When I say the victim would be forgotten, justice wise she would. Going after folks that could have prevented it…would be easier.
We are doing our best to make sure that doesn’t happen!!
All of this will end up lost in a sea of red tape while they decide when or where he should be tried for the crime. What country would be responsible for prosecuting him? Hopefully it would be the United States since it happen on one of our bases. I guess we will all have to wait and see how all of this plays out. The workers that are responsible for key control should not have to wait and wonder about their fate. Maybe after all of this KBR will figure out a better way to control who and why someone has keys to living quarters.
The Houston Chronicle just published an artical….FINALLY the media is picking this up.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/6762491.html
Goin out on a limb here and may get some flack for it, but here goes. I believe the Project Manager at the site should walk around his responsible area of the base with one assistant, a clipboard (not drive) and write down anything and everything they see, date it, put a time on it, when they get through, take a copy of it to the base commanders office for record. Install cameras (both hidden and out in the open)especially around living quarters – especially the ladies living quarters). Haven’t heard many men getting raped. Make one entrance into the living areas, much like a prison and search those that do not live in them, sign an entrance sheet with time in and out, hold there identification cards until they return to the entrance and then they get their card back and they must say how long they might be inside to do the work. They must maintain radio control with security at the gate on an open line to one other listener besides the security persons at the gate and that is the military police. The military were at the chow halls checking i.d.’s, they could listen in on these radio transmissions and document things.
In our communities back home we have the police that patrol our communities, and some communities more than others because of the high rates of crime. This is a war zone and these areas must be secure to prevent this horrible act from ever happening again. MAKE THE LIVING QUARTERS AREAS MORE SECURE – ESPECIALLY FOR THE LADIES.
Just a couple of points. According to military stats, 1 in 3 females and 1 in 10 males are sexually assaulted while in the Military. I don’t know if we have any official stats on civilians in combat zones. But I guarantee you we are only hearing about a fraction of what is actually reported which is a fraction of what actually occurs to females let alone males. Makes even less likely to report the crime than females. Especially amongst Foreign National workers of the labor contractors like PPI etc. We have a “Rape, Hazing, Discrimination, Harassment” category http://mssparky.com/category/rape-hazing-discrimination-harassment/ where we try to keep up with that the best we can.
Secondly, You will not find most managers in favor of increased supervision and accountability in the living areas. That would interfere with there own “hooch hopping” after the sun goes down. Hell…..before the sun goes down!
At Camp Hope in the Green Zone I had to show my badge to unescorted, unvetted Iraqi men working as KBR security to get into my living quarters. That’s right Iraqi men watched over me while I slept. They had control of all vehicle and personnel access points into and out of Camp Hope. I complained about this vehemently. Finally KBR hired Global Security and they brought in Nepalese and Sri Lankan security guards armed with AK-47’s to watch the Iraqi’s. Why didn’t I feel more secure?
Don’t get me wrong…I’m not saying I don’t like Iraqi’s. I am saying you can’t tell and insurgent from a non insurgent. And the loyalties can change from day to day!
I agree with you completely Deb! My first camp, we had Iraqi guards working security. Its highly unrealistic, unlikely that FWIW’s suggestion would occur simply because the security manpower and “support” of it would never be funded. They would consider it to be a personnel issue I believe as they’ve always swept the porch in the past on this topic. But you see where it has got them now with the high profile cases…they’ll take the chance of making settlements over interfering with any contract discussions that could be a hindrance. Why should the government be responsible for the contractor to protect their people? The contractor should provide their own protection… I’m sure would be the Military response. I’m not an expert, but after being with KBR over 5 years I seen it all, heard it all, read it all. Its all about the 3 rules of SEE NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL.
In this article http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0310-23.htm written Jeremy Scahill about a KBR audit and $400 million they will probably have to pay back for private security they hired it states:
I would much rather have had a US soldier guarding Camp Hope!!
Chick,
I would really like to speak with you about what you have seen related to “the 3 rules.” I represent several victims of these horrible crimes, and it sounds like you can provide invaluable background information.
WOW! That’s a good find! *Whistles* 400M….
I thought I had blogged about this, but I didn’t. It was written by Jeremy in March 2007. That was “BMS” (Before Ms Sparky).
I hope that is just a drop in the bucket of what they have to pay back!
I’ve been thinking about this. I don’t know about the sites everyone else was on, I know for a fact that some camps in C sites had Iraqi guards over KBR camps. Others had Ghurkas. H Sites had Turkish all would guard the living quarters or some of the offices, unarmed of course. I never seen those personnel guard military soldiers. Seems stupid to guard soldiers who have weapons and the guards have a radio. “HALT! I’ll PEG YOU IN THE HEAD WITH MY RADIO…. DONT MAKE ME USE CHANNEL 2 (operations)!!!”
CHICK, please contact me at your earliest convenience. This is important information. 713-255-2055
They haven’t released a thing here on the rape. They are making everyone attend a sexual assault class though. As far as I know, they still haven’t caught the rapist.
I know that the sliding bolt locks are very inexpensive back here in the States, and when home on R/R one should buy several, that way when someone trys to open the door – they can’t, also buy some of the peep-holes too, they aren’t that expensive, then you could see who might be at the door in the day time, more difficult at night. If they won’t allow it for all people – they should atleast allow it for the women!!! Put one on the front door and one on the door going into the bathroom when a neighbor shares the bathroom, that way they can’t go into your room while your gone.
Peep holes at the front door are a great idea. But peep holes in the bathroom? Not so much!
I know which of bathroom you are talking about. It has a door from both rooms that go directly into a bathroom. My husband had a room like that. Who thought up that stupid design. It means your trailer mate has access to your room via the bathroom if you forget to lock the bathroom door. My trailer had one front door into an inside foyer. There was a door on the right and a door on the left with lockable doors into a bedroom. The door to the bathroom was in the foyer. So either room had access to the bathroom without disturbing the other. I liked that design.
A peep hole in the front door would have been nice.
I need a copy of the BOLO (be on the look out) that is posted all over JBB (Balad) for the guy who raped this KBR employee.
You can either scan it and send it as a PDF, take a photo and send it as a JPG or make a copy and send it in the snail mail.
If you need a snail mail address or email address shoot me a message via the contact us page in the upper right corner of the site.
If you have any other information about this rape, KBR’s response to it or anything else you think we should know please shoot me an email or get in touch with the victim’s attorney, Todd Kelly
Thanks
My husband told me last night that they have the guy who did this.
I’d like to get more information on that. Anyone else with information please shoot me an email or post a comment! Thanks
Hey Sparky, where are the comments?
Some comments are not getting published and are being forwarded to the victims attorney. Here is a post I published this weekend. I am still getting conflicting reports on whether or not they caught the guy. Some are saying yes and some are saying not yet!
http://mssparky.com/2010/01/will-new-locks-on-female-facilities-help-prevent-sexual-assault-in-iraq/
Thanks. I’m behind her…
CHICK,
I would really like to speak with you if you have relevant information. Please contact me at your convenience…