» Adam Hermanson-TC

Janine Hermanson still seeks answers in Adams electrocution death

December 13, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Nearly four months later, Janine Hermanson still searches for answers regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband Adam Hermanson who was electrocuted and died in his shower. This happened at Triple Canopy’s Camp Olympia in the Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq on September 1, 2009.

(For some reason I am having problems with this video viewing properly in FireFox. Internet Explorer seems to be viewing it OK. If you are just seeing a big black box click HERE to go the NBC site to watch the video there. I will get it fixed ASAP….I hope.) (Read the rest of the story here…)

Widow pleads for information about electrocution death of husband

November 25, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Widow Raising New Questions About Electrocutions in Iraq

Husband Died While Showering in Baghdad
Carol Han – November 25, 2009

Adam's widow Janine Hermanson

WASHINGTON — It appears as if 18 deaths, a congressional probe and new military marching orders were not enough to end a rash of electrocutions in Iraq.

Now, a Pennsylvania woman is demanding accountability after her husband, an Air Force veteran and military contractor, died in a Baghdad shower Sept. 1. Adam Hermanson’s death comes less than two years after a Pittsburgh soldier, Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, was electrocuted while taking a shower in Iraq.

Janine Hermanson, of Muncy, Pa., says that for the past two months, she has been getting the runaround from military investigators and Triple Canopy, the Defense Department contractor that hired her husband.

SLIDESHOW: Widow Raising New Questions About Electrocutions in Iraq

KIROTV Video-In depth exclusive

KIROTV Video-Janine Hermanson “How I cope”

KIROTV Video-Janine Hermanson “No one will give me answers”

Senator Casey-Closing the contractor loophole

“It’s so frustrating,” Janine Hermanson said. “All I want to know is what happened to him and why it happened to him but no one can tell me. No one seems to care to tell me.”

Janine Hermanson’s search for answers started not long after she received a phone call from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Hermanson says the woman on the phone told her there was no foul play involved.

It’s the same point repeated in a letter she received from the U.S Embassy in Iraq dated Sept. 1. In it, Jennifer Tierney, chief of American Citizen Services, writes: “There is no indication of any foul play or unusual circumstances.”

Read the entire letter HERE.

“I didn’t understand,” Janine Hermanson said. “He didn’t have any medical problems. No health problems.”

Adam in Baghdad The mystery was solved a few days later when Adam Hermanson’s body was shipped to Dover Air Force Base. Janine says there were burn marks on his body, and the military medical examiner who performed the autopsy told her that the cause of death was likely low-voltage electrocution.

Janine immediately contacted the U.S. Criminal Investigation Command (CID), the special Army task force looking into Adam’s death.

In an email to Janine dated Nov. 23, Special Agent Jeff Lange from the Army CID in Carlisle, Pa., wrote that the investigation has shown that Triple Canopy — Adam’s employer — “appears to be solely responsible for the operations and maintenance” of the camp where Adam lived. Lange also said that an inspection performed after Adam’s death shows the electricity in his building was not grounded or bonded. “The investigation is seeking to identify whether any criminality was involved in Adam’s death,” Lange wrote.

Janine says that several major questions remain unanswered. First, why wasn’t she initially told about the electrocution? Who was the contractor who put in the building’s electricity and plumbing? Who is ultimately responsible for Adam’s death?

These are all questions Janine put in writing to the CID. The answer she received from Special Agent Lange: “[these] are some of the questions the investigation is seeking to answer.”

Janine says she felt like she got the brush-off and that her inquiries to Triple Canopy were even less fruitful.

“I’m so tired of people not talking to me and people ignoring me and not giving me answers,” Janine said. “I try really hard not to go off on people, but it’s getting harder.”

We contacted Triple Canopy for information on Adam’s death.

Spokesman Gregory Vistica sent us the following statement: “Following the tragic death of Adam Hermanson in Baghdad, Iraq on the morning of September 1, 2009, Triple Canopy immediately notified the appropriate authorities and cooperated with investigators…. So far, Mrs. Hermanson and Triple Canopy have received conflicting information from the government regarding the investigation. The company understands the government’s desire to be methodical in its investigation, but looks forward to its conclusion.”

Janine isn’t buying this, which is why she’s thankful to be getting guidance from the one woman who knows exactly what she’s going through.

Cheryl Harris lost her son, Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, in January 2008, when he was electrocuted in a shower in Baghdad. Initially, she was led to believe that the incident had been his fault because she was told Ryan had carried a small appliance into the shower. A subsequent investigation found that faulty wiring was to blame.

“I almost feel that she’s motherly, or like a best friend,” said Janine. “I speak to her everyday, and she’s my biggest supporter.”

Harris encouraged Janine to take her case to Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., who championed her cause by holding congressional hearings. He also pushed the Defense Department to create a special task force to re-inspect all 90,000 U.S. facilities in Iraq. Problem is, not all contractors were required to fix the dangerous deficiencies discovered. So earlier this month, Casey sponored an amendment that forces the military to close this loophole.

“This isn’t that difficult, the Department of Defense has to insist on that,” Casey said. “They shouldn’t have to wait for language from me or anyone else to get this done!”

Janine and Adam met when they were both serving in the Air Force. They were both deployed to Iraq, Uzbekistan and Kuwait before Janine left the military in January 2007. Adam did one more tour before leaving in October 2008.

They were planning to settle down in the Williamsport area, but when there wasn’t enough money to buy a house, Adam decided to go back to Baghdad in July, but this time as a civilian working for a defense contractor.

He died less than a week before what would have been his fourth wedding anniversary.

“I miss everything,” said Janine, wiping tears from her eyes. “I just hate that I can’t call him now to say that I love him.” (click HERE for original article)

It is absolutely ridiculous the DoD and Triple Canopy are stringing Janine along. There is someone out there who has the answers for his woman. Man up and do what Adam would want you to do. Tell the truth!

Janine is not alone. She is surrounded by supportive family, friends, fellow victims and bloggers. We will find the truth!

Ms Sparky

Arrogance instead of answers for the Hermanson family

November 8, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Adam Hermanson 2a Adam V. Hermanson, 25, died needlessly on September 1, 2009 when he was electrocuted in his shower at Camp Olympia in the International (Green) Zone in Baghdad, Iraq while working for security contractor Triple Canopy. It has been 2 1/2 months since Adam died and his family is no closer to finding who’s responsible for his death than they were on September 1st.

“I’m tired of people not talking to me. I have every right to know what happened to my husband.” demands Janine Hermanson, Adam Hermanson’s widow.

Right after Adam’s death there was a huge amount of confusion over whether he was working on a DoD or DoS contract and who was responsible for Camp Olympia. Both the DoD and DoS said “Not us!” It would have appeared at the time that Adams death was going to be labeled a “tragic accident” and was not going to be investigated. Being electrocuted in a shower is not an accident. It is the result of negligence and total disregard for the safety of the occupants of the building.

On September 17, 2009 House Representatives Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) sent a letter to Secretary Gates requesting he:

…fully investigate the death of Adam Hermanson. “We are appalled by the Pentagon’s failure to pursue answers to the questions surrounding this tragedy.” “The family has also stated that a Triple Canopy representative informed them that the company dismantled the electrical wiring in Mr. Hermanson’s quarters after is his death, hampering any subsequent investigation. (click HERE to read the entire letter)

Under Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter’s responds to Rep Shea-Porter and Schakowsky for Sec Gates:

Mr. Hermanson was an employee of Triple Canopy, a defense contractor providing private security services to the Department of Defense in Iraq. The Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan (JCC-I/A) awarded the contract to Triple Canopy in September 2007. In January, 2008 JCC-I/A delegated contract administration, oversight and evaluation of the private security performance elements of the contract to the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). As part of the terms and conditions of the JCC-I/A contact, Triple Canopy is solely responsible for providing billeting, showers, latrines and other life support activities to its employees at Camp Olympia.

The Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I) quickly responded to the incident notification involving Mr. Hermanson by initiating a request to investigate and directing its Task Force Safety Action for Fire and Electricity (TF SAFE) support team to inspect the site. The Department of State Regional Security Office and the Army Criminal Investigation Command are conducting an investigation.

The TF SAFE team initiated a formal shock investigation September 2 and issued a report September 7. TF SAFE’s preliminary investigation results found grounding and bonding deficiencies. The overall assessment of the electrical system revealed that major repairs were required to bring the system to a safe standard.

In addition, TF SAFE deployed two electrical teams to inspect the remaining Triple Canopy facilities at Camp Olympia. (click HERE to read entire letter)

As you can see, even the Pentagon is stating Triple Canopy was responsible for the showers where Adam died. And yet Triple Canopy has not been forthright with the family. They are withholding information. As far as the CID investigation goes, I have little faith in their findings after the circus surrounding their investigation of SSG Ryan Maseth’s electrocution death.

Below is a list of information that would be beneficial to the family. This information is not for blogging. It will go directly to the family.

What is the building number/designation for Adams building?
Is it on any deferred inspection list? Was it officially deferred?
We need a copy of the report of the after accident investigation performed by Michael Daniels of Task Force SAFE. Secretary Carter’s letter confirmed what we had heard verbally. We would like the entire report, pics and all.
We would like to know who did the maintenance at the camp. Someone had to be fixing stuff. Who was it?
We would like to know who removed the water heater and associated electrical and plumbing.
Were there any previous complaints of shock in this building? Any documentation on that?
Now that Task Force SAFE is performing electrical and fire inspections, who is doing the electrical repairs in response to the inspection findings?
Who are the Task Force SAFE inspectors that were/are at Camp Olympia?

There are people who have the information needed for this family to get resolution. They have photos, reports, documents, first hand information. They were witnesses. We need you to come forward.

"I'm going to keep fighting for him. He fought for me, now it's my time to fight for him," said Janine Hermanson.

What would you want if it had been you who died and it were your wife and family seeking answers? What would you want your friends and co-workers to do? Yes…we know you are being threatened with your jobs if you talk. Do the right thing.

Triple Canopy, the Army CID, the Defense and State Departments are not our allies. They have their own agendas. If you have information the family deserves to have it. You can send it anonymously. If you don’t have attachments you can send it via my CONTACT US page. If you want to send hard copies via US Postal Service there is a PO box address there as well. If you have photos, reports, emails or other attachments and don’t want to use your personal email account, set up a new anonymous email account at hotmail, yahoo or gmail then click on the CONTACT US page and contact me using that email. I will respond to you.

For everyone who has come forward. Thank you so much!!

Here’s another photo of Adam provided by his family.

Adam Hermanson 3

A personal note to Adam Hermanson’s family. I am so sorry for your loss. I’m in the fight until you have all the answers to your questions.

For all my posts on Adam’s death click HERE

Ms Sparky

KBR prefers to defer electrical inspections in Iraq

October 31, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Task force re-inspecting U.S. facilities in Iraq for faulty wiring

By Lisa Novak, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, November 1, 2009

Courtesy of the Department of Defense Spc. Marcus O. Nolasco was electrocuted while showering at this facility on Forward Operating Base Summerall, Beiji, Iraq, on May 18, 2004. The Defense Department has created a task force to inspect all facilities in Iraq after more than a dozen U.S. troops have been electrocuted. Included in the list are thousands of facilities whose electrical work was completed by defense contractor KBR.

An Army task force re-inspecting thousands of potentially unsafe U.S. facilities in Iraq for faulty electrical wiring says a contractor previously ordered to conduct inspections of its own work placed 5,600 facilities on a “deferred” list — meaning they were low priority or there were no plans to inspect them.

Officials with the Defense Department’s 135-member Task Force SAFE said many of the buildings on KBR’s deferred list were still being used by soldiers. As a result, the task force moved these facilities to the top of its inspection list, according to a Sept. 8 internal memo.

Sixteen U.S. troops and two contractors were electrocuted — and hundreds more incurred shock-related injuries — in Iraq over a span of four years, prompting the Defense Department to create the task force last year to physically inspect every military facility in the country, the majority of which were provided by KBR. Additionally, the Defense Contract Management Agency directed KBR to inspect all 75,000 of its facilities, a process that began last February.

But Multi-National Forces–Iraq let KBR either postpone or abandon site inspections because of confusion surrounding the status of the thousands of facilities, a military official said.

The Army said the deferred list is intended for facilities not likely to be used, that have been abandoned, are about to be turned over to the Iraqi government or are located in sensitive areas.

Brig. Gen. Kurt Stein, the senior logistics officer in Iraq and who serves as the director for Task Force SAFE, said there initially was confusion over these deferred facilities.

“What I wanted to know upfront is ‘Have you been in this facility to ensure that there’s no life, health, safety issues in them?’?” Stein said. “That’s why it got put up to the top because people were concerned that ‘Hey, we better double-check or we better verify.’?”

But “once KBR identified that they were not going to validate these facilities, they were made the [task force’s] top priority,” Glen MacDonald, program manager for Task Force SAFE, wrote in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes.

When first reached about the issue three weeks ago, KBR spokeswoman Heather Browne denied any knowledge of a “deferred” list.

Two weeks later — after being provided a copy of the list by Stars and Stripes — Browne acknowledged only 120 facilities as deferred, stating those facilities required special access to complete inspections. She said the list, titled “Deferred Un-inspected,” includes deferred and nondeferred facilities and that KBR is inspecting all of its facilities. She would not, however, say when that decision was made.

Requests to talk with other KBR officials were denied.

There are 3,350 KBR deferred facilities that had not been inspected for electrical safety as of Oct. 31, according to Navy Capt. Russ Hughes, a Task Force SAFE spokesman. While KBR is in the process of inspecting 150 of those facilities, the Defense Contract Management Agency is considering the status of the remaining deferred facilities. If the DCMA decides those facilities will be abandoned, they won’t be inspected, he said.

The task force, which was created in August 2008, is working from “sunup to sundown” to inspect all facilities in Iraq, Stein said. Since last year, the team has inspected around 107,000 facilities — the majority of them wired by KBR — and found 22,000 major deficiencies. Around 19,000 of them have been fixed, he said.

While electrical hazards still exist, Stein said much has improved.

“When I first got here a year ago, I was afraid to touch any socket, I was afraid to turn my lights on, I was afraid to take a shower. I made sure I didn’t touch any walls or anything,” Stein said.

Initially, the task force focused on housing and shower units, Stein said.

“Now we’re into motor pools, fixed facilities. … If the bonding and grounding is not right, we’re fixing all that.”

Bonding creates a safe pathway for electricity to flow between components, while grounding ensures that pathway leads to the ground to absorb any current.

The task force is expected to complete inspections on all facilities in Iraq by the end of January. (click HERE for original article)

I’d like to know if Adam Hermanson’s building where he was electrocuted in his shower and died on September 1, 2oo9 was on that deferred list.

Pentagon Investigating Iraq Electrocution Death-Adam Hermanson

October 28, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Updated October 30, 2009: Click HERE to read the full letter from Under Secretary of Defense Ashon B. Carter sent in response to Rep Carol Shea-Porter’s letter dated September 17, 2009 with regards to Adam Hermanson’s death. (click HERE for Rep Carol Shea-Porters letter)

Pentagon Investigating Iraq Electrocution Death

By Jeremy Scahill

October 28, 2009

The Department of Defense has confirmed that the US Army Criminal Investigation Command has launched a formal investigation into the electrocution death of 25-year-old Adam Hermanson, a US Air Force veteran-turned private security contractor who died in a shower at the compound of his employer, Triple Canopy, at Camp Olympia inside Baghdad’s Green Zone on September 1, 2009. The State Department’s Regional Security Office is also investigating.

The DoD appears to be placing responsibility for the deadly incident squarely on Triple Canopy. “As part of the terms and conditions of the JCC-I/A contract, Triple Canopy is solely responsible for providing billeting, showers, latrines and other life support activities to its employees at Camp Olympia,” according to Under Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter. Hermanson is the nineteenth US soldier or contractor to die from electrocution in Iraq since 2003.

Carter said that the US military’s Task Force SAFE “initiated a formal shock investigation” of the incident the day after Hermanson’s death and issued a report a week later, on September 7. “TF SAFE’s preliminary investigation results found grounding and bonding deficiencies,” Carter wrote in a letter dated October 19 to Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Carol Shea-Porter, a copy of which was provided to The Nation. “The overall assessment of the electrical system revealed that major repairs were required to bring the systems to a safe standard. The TF SAFE investigation will remain open until the facility repairs are completed and re-inspected.” Carter added that the Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan “issued a cure notice to Triple Canopy” on September 4 informing the company that its electrical wiring was “inadequate.” Triple Canopy, he said, had responded and that its facility is currently under review.

On September 17, Schakowsky and Shea-Porter wrote letters to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about Hermanson’s death. “We are appalled by the Pentagon’s failure to pursue answers to the questions surrounding this tragedy,” they wrote in their letter to Gates. “Since Mr. Hermanson was in Iraq working on a DoD contract, we believe that the Pentagon has a responsibility to fully investigate.” Citing comments from Major Shawn Turner to The Nation that there is “no indication that US forces will be launching a formal investigation” because Hermanson’s death took place at a facility that “does not fall under DoD responsibility,” the lawmakers told Gates, “It is disturbing that the Department of Defense apparently wishes to distance itself, now that a fatality has occurred.” Carter’s letter, which was written “on behalf of” Secretary Gates, to the lawmakers appears to reverse the earlier DoD position on Hermanson’s death. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has also called for an investigation.

Hermanson’s family has alleged that Triple Canopy representatives initially misled them about how he died. They also say that a Triple Canopy representative told them that the company had dismantled electrical wiring and other equipment in Hermanson’s quarters after his body was found, which could make it harder to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. Triple Canopy will not say who did the electrical wiring or plumbing in the facility where Adam Hermanson died.

Former Halliburton subsidiary KBR, which has been under investigation by Congress over the issue of electrocution deaths of US troops at facilities where KBR did the wiring, issued a strong denial that it had any relationship to the operations, maintenance or electrical wiring at Triple Canopy’s Camp Olympia facility. According to the DoD’s Carter, “KBR is responsible for providing two specific services to Camp Olympia: food and bottled water” under its contract with the military. “The [Defense] Department does not otherwise provide, manage, or maintain the facilities at the camp.”

The military is making its way through inspections at the more than 90,000 US-run facilities in Iraq, a massive undertaking. According to the Associated Press, “KBR’s database lists 231 electric shock incidents in the more than 89,000 facilities the company runs in Iraq, according to military records.” As The Nation has previously reported, the Defense Department paid KBR more than $80 million in bonuses for contracts to install electrical wiring in Iraq.

“TF SAFE is aggressively inspecting all facilities in Iraq occupied by military, civilian, and contractor personnel,” Carter wrote. “An additional 36 contractor living camps in Iraq have been identified. TF SAFE has initiated a process to assess electrical systems at these camps and has the capacity to assess approximately two camps per week. Efforts will continue to identify and correct unsafe electrical conditions as they are discovered.” (click HERE for the original article)

If you have any information regarding the death of Adam Hermanson please contact me by clicking HERE.

Ms Sparky

Adam Hermanson’s family still seeks answers

October 27, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Terror In Iraq

Local Woman Seeks Answers About Her Husband’s Death

Barbara C. Barrett
POSTED: October 27, 2009

adam-hermanson MUNCY – On September 1 at 11:30 in the evening, Janine Hermanson received a phone call from the US Embassy in Iraq that her husband, Adam Hermanson was found dead in the shower. No explanation was given other than the fact that he was electrocuted because they found burn marks on his arm and hand. They were only married for three months.

Since then, Mrs. Hermanson has been on a mission to find out what really happened to her husband in Iraq. She said that this has not been the first time this has happened to contractors working overseas. She has uncovered over 280 electrocutions to Americans since 2003 in Iraq and Afghanistan. “My husband is the 19th electrocution death in Iraq and that includes service members and contractors,” she said. “Others have occurred in swimming pools, washing hummers in car washes, and just from washing their hands,” she explained. He was doing what many of us do everyday when he died, taking a shower. He was working as a supervisor for a security contractor in Baghdad’s Green Zone since July 6, 2009 for a company called Triple Canopy. The company, headquartered in Herndon, Virginia hired him to be a mercenary since he was no longer employed by the Air Force. He was not allowed to discuss his job with his family while he was employed in Iraq she said.

The Hermansons met while they were serving in the Air Force in Utah in 2003.

“I know very little,” she added. “No one has been able to give me the information I want. The privacy laws are keeping me from getting information from the company. They said there was no foul play involved. I can’t help but be suspicious of such an untimely death. His life was taken from me. It’s just not right. He was going to come home in November.”

An autopsy was done at the Dover Air Force base in Delaware. The medical examiner said that the toxicology reports are pending. In speaking with others who had similar cases, Hermanson discovered she wasn’t alone. “Others have been electrocuted at different camps and as I keep doing the research more cases are being revealed, and I think the government is keeping it a secret,” she said.

Hermanson is working with the Department of Defense and Senator Bob Casey’s office in Harrisburg. She also hired a law firm from Philadelphia that specializes in these types of cases. Her investigation has also been handed over to the ARMY CID (Criminal Investigation Division) and she is hoping to get answers this week.

Senator Casey said he has been working on this issue for some time and recently passed an amendment (FY2010) through the Department of Appropriations that requires inspections on any contract work paid for by taxpayers.

“I want to prevent this from happening again. This shouldn’t keep happening. This is shocking. I’m going to find answers no matter how long it takes, even if it is for the rest of my life,” she vowed. “I’m tired of people not talking. I have every right to know what happened to my husband.”

The couple had plans to permanently reside in Muncy after Adam was deployed. (click HERE for the original article)

If you have information regarding the death of Adam Hermanson please contact me by clicking HERE. For those of you who have come forward with information THANK YOU!!!

I am working on another post on Adam Hermanson. It should be published in a couple of day.

Ms Sparky

Senator Casey cracksdown on DoD contactors

October 3, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Casey pushes crackdown on government contractors

By Robin Acton
Saturday, October 3, 2009

One month after the latest electrocution in Iraq, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey has proposed an amendment to a defense appropriations bill that would hold government contractors accountable for the safety of overseas military personnel and civilians working abroad.

The legislation would close a loophole that allowed shoddy electrical work and other problems on American military bases to go uncorrected, the Scranton Democrat said. It would require the Department of Defense to review contracts to ensure they include language requiring contractors to immediately correct deficiencies, such as improperly grounded facilities or equipment, that could cause death or serious injury.

Casey’s amendment also seeks to ensure safe and sanitary water systems, and establish and enforce strict standards for preventing and prosecuting instances of sexual assault.

He has been an outspoken critic of the government’s defense contracting procedures since the Jan. 2, 2008, electrocution of Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, 24, of Shaler. The Green Beret collapsed and died when a rooftop pump shorted out and sent a lethal electrical current along water running through metal pipes into his shower in the Radwaniyah Palace Complex in Iraq.

Maseth is among 10 service members and civilian contractors in Iraq who died from electrocutions that could have been prevented, according to Casey.

The most recent occurred Sept. 1 when Adam Hermanson, 25, of Muncy collapsed and died in his shower at Camp Olympia inside Baghdad’s Green Zone. The Air Force veteran, who completed four tours of duty in Iraq, was working as a civilian contractor for Triple Canopy Security Service.

“We’ve had lots of investigation and lots of reviews, but, in my judgment, not enough in the way of answers,” Casey said. He said the Defense and State departments are obligated to provide families with answers about how the electrocutions continue to happen.

Maseth’s parents, Cheryl Harris and Douglas Maseth, filed suit in federal court against defense contractor KBR Inc., alleging shoddy electrical work killed their son. KBR denies responsibility for the soldier’s death, which brought national attention to the electrocution issue and prompted government inspections of facilities military personnel use.

Hermanson’s widow, Janine, said she does not know much about her husband’s living quarters or what he was doing in connection with the war effort because he was not permitted to talk about it. The dental assistant, who is staying with her parents in Muncy, said she learned about his death when she got a phone call at work.

“When he didn’t show up for work, they got worried, and a co-worker went to check on him. He was found in his room in the shower,” she said.

She described her husband as a strong, family-oriented man who did everything he could for his family and friends. They met while serving in the Air Force as they were preparing for deployment to Iraq and would have celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary five days after his death, she said.

“I never had to worry about anything when he was around,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. (click HERE for original article)

I ‘ve said this before, but I am going to say it again…..”WHAT THE HELL!” I am disturbed there has be been a law passed to enforce a DoD contactor to produce potable drinking water. I can hear KBR now. “You said make water!! You didn’t say it had to be drinkable!! Now make sure we get those 100’s of millions in award fees!!” What the hell!!! DoD you are freakin’ FIRED!!

And as for sexual and other assaults….”You must now prevent and prosecute those!” No more LaVena Johnson’s out there. Is the Army CID actually going to have to investigate and recommend charges against someone who rapes and or assaults someone else.

You can bet you bottom dollar the attorney’s for KBR, Fluor (aka KBR east), Dyncorp and other DoD contractors are scanning this bill to see how they can get out of having to do what they are contracted to do……and still get paid!

Ms Sparky

A law to protect soldiers from KBR and others? How disturbing!

October 2, 2009 — Ms Sparky

press_headerSM

Casey Amendment to Hold Contractors Accountable

Addresses Electrocutions and Other Risks to Safety

Press Release – October 1, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) spoke on the Senate floor and introduced an amendment to the FY2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill that would hold contractors accountable for the safety of military personnel while serving abroad. Senator Casey introduced this legislation after shoddy electrical work lead to the deaths of a soldier and a contractor with ties to Pennsylvania while showering in Iraq.

“Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, 10 brave service members and civilian contractors in Iraq have died as a result of electrocutions that could have been prevented,” said Senator Casey. “We’ve had lots of investigation and lots of reviews, but, in my judgment, not enough in the way of answers. We have an obligation in the United States Senate as well to prevent any further electrocutions of our troops in these circumstances.”

Casey’s amendment would close a loophole that has left shoddy electrical work and other problems on American military bases uncorrected. Under current law, contractors that inspect and discover deficiencies are not explicitly required to immediately correct such problems. This amendment would ensure that the Defense Department reviews all contracts to ensure that the language of the contract clearly requires contractors to immediately correct deficiencies, such as improperly grounded equipment or facilities, which could cause death or serious bodily harm.

Senator Casey continued, “Staff Sergeant Ryan Maseth of the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania died on January 2, 2008, when he was electrocuted while showering in his barracks in Iraq. It’s hard to describe in words the horrific nightmare that he had to live through and was killed by and the nightmare that his family has lived through ever since. His mother, Cheryl Harris, is someone I’ve come to know and she’s been a strong advocate not just for finding out what happened to her son but also making sure that this doesn’t happen to other sons and daughters serving in harm’s way. And just imagine this- a brave soldier trained to take on the enemy, willing to go into the battlefield and endure a firefight, is killed in a shower because someone didn’t do their job in ensuring that that shower was not grounded or not installed correctly to prevent a shock which led to an electrocution and a death.

“Ryan was not killed in combat. He was killed by the mistakes of others in a place where he should have had a reasonable expectation of safety and security away from the battlefield. This amendment is necessary because Ryan’s tragic death could have been prevented if the bad electrical work was fixed.

“At the beginning of last month, a civilian contractor, Adam Hermanson died as a result of being electrocuted. Adam was planning to move to Pennsylvania with his wife Janine. Janine is currently living in our state with her parents and searching for an explanation as to why this happened to her husband. The Departments of Defense and State have an obligation to provide this explanation.”

In addition to preventing electrocutions, Senator Casey’s amendment seeks to ensure safe and sanitary water and establish and enforce strict standards for preventing and prosecuting instances of sexual assault.

Click HERE for the original press release

I think the thing that disturbs me the most about this Amendment is that we even have to have an Amendment to make DoD contractors provide clean safe drinking water and safe electrical installations. I am disturbed the DoD would settle for anything less. I really do think it’s time to be yanking some stars off!!!

Ms Sparky

Woman Wants Answers in Husband’s Electrocution

September 29, 2009 — Ms Sparky

By Jim Hamill
5:34 PM EDT, September 29, 2009

Woman Wants Answers in Husband’s Electrocution A woman in Northumberland County is mourning her husband’s death earlier this month in Iraq.

He was electrocuted and she said it’s not the first time it has happened to contractors working overseas.

Adam Hermanson was doing what many of us do every day when he died; taking a shower. He was far from home, working as a security contractor in Baghdad’s Green Zone.

Now his wife and her family want to know who is responsible for his untimely death.

“I’m going to keep fighting for him. He fought for me, now it’s my time to fight for him,” said Janine Hermanson.

She lives with her parents near Muncy. Her late husband’s belongings sit on the back porch.

“It’s been a month now and they still don’t know who had a contract or contracts on his facility such as building or who had to maintain his facility,” Hermanson said.

She added the couple planned to buy a home in the Muncy area when her husband finished working for the firm Triple Canopy. Now she spends hours every day trying to find out what went wrong.

Her father said Adam Hermanson did not deserve to die like this.

“Our poor daughter. No husband, 25 years old. This is insanity,” said Janine Hermanson’s father, John Sivak.

Hermanson said she and her husband served in the Air Force. It’s where they met. Following his death, she said, she isn’t getting straight answers from company officials or military officials.

Not only that, but Hermanson has learned her husband’s case would make the 19th electrocution death in Iraq since 2003. That includes service members and contractors.

Senator Bob Casey said he has been working on this issue since early 2008 and is filing an amendment that would require inspections on any contract work paid for by taxpayers.

“It’s disturbing and troubling that we have to file an amendment like this. (It) should be part of what Army does anyway,” Casey said Tuesday.

As for Janine Hermanson, she doesn’t plan on giving up her quest for answers.

“I’m going to make sure who’s responsible and make this stop,” she vowed. “I’m tired of people not talking to me. I have every right to know what happened to my husband.”

Senator Casey said that amendment could take months to pass.

The state department is also investigating the situation. (click HERE for original article)

If you have any information regarding Adam Hermanson’s death or information about Camp Olympia send me an email by clicking HERE

Ms Sparky

House Reps Ask for a Full Investigation of Hermanson’s Death

September 19, 2009 — Ms Sparky

House Representatives Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) have sent a letter to Secretary Gates requesting that he “fully investigate the death of Adam Hermanson”. “We are appalled by the Pentagon’s failure to pursue answers to the questions surrounding this tragedy.” “The family has also stated that a Triple Canopy representative informed them that the company dismantled the electrical wiring in Mr. Hermanson’s quarters after is his death, hampering any subsequent investigation.”

The complete letter is below. For a larger view, there is a “full screen toggle” in the upper right hand corner of the letter screen. If that doesn’t worker for you click the link just above the letter screen entitled “Hermanson Letter to Sec. Gates”.

Hermanson Letter to Sec. Gates

Triple Canopy’s Camp Olympia in Iraq

September 16, 2009 — Ms Sparky

In an effort to continue to find answers to the senseless electrocution death of Adam Hermanson we keep asking questions and people keep giving us answers. Below are two photos. Both photos are unclassified and pose no OPSEC (Operational Security) risk. The photo on the top is a partial map of the International Zone with Camp Olympia noted in the lower left hand corner. The photo on the bottom is a photo of what I believe to be Camp Olympia that I pulled off Google Earth. We need to know, which building Adam Hermanson was electrocuted in. What are the building numbers/designations if any. This very easily could have happened to any person in this camp. We would appreciate your help.
international-zone-map-12

Map of the International Zone/Green Zone as of August 2009

camp-olympia-1

Camp Olympia via Google Earth

The buildings in this photo look like existing hardstand Iraqi buildings. They do not look new as if they were built with the New US Embassy Complex.

Ms Sparky

Senator Reid Wants Investigation Into Adam Hermansons Electrocution Death

September 14, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Reid asks for investigation into electrocution

By KIMBERLY HEFLING
Associated Press Writer
September 14, 2009 – 3:45pm

WASHINGTON (AP)— Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is asking the State Department and Pentagon to investigate the electrocution death of a 25-year-old private contractor killed while showering in his dormitory in Baghdad.

Reid says he wants to know whether Adam Hermanson’s death resulted from faulty electrical work. Hermanson was from Reid’s home state of Nevada.

Electrical wiring has been an ongoing problem in Iraq that the military has been trying to fix. At least three troops have been electrocuted while showering since the start of the Iraq War, and others have been electrocuted elsewhere.

Hermanson died Sept. 1.

Reid made the request Monday in letters to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. (click HERE for the original article)

I am please that Senator Reid is taking steps to find out what happened to Adam Hermanson. It’s clear the DoD and DoS aren’t. They argued for a week about who was responsible for the facility. I think a determination was finally made after a heated match of “Rock-Paper-Scissors”! I find it hard to believe these two huge Government agencies could not decide if they were responsible for this camp.

Now, I ask….”Where’s the evidence that was removed from from the building where Adam Hermanson died?”

“Democracy Now” interview with Adam Hermansons Family

September 11, 2009 — Ms Sparky

If you can not view this video on Ms Sparky click HERE to go to the Democracy Now.org site

It’s Not Unreasonable To Conclude

September 10, 2009 — Ms Sparky

(This post was updated 4:12 pm 9/10/2009 see below)

I’ve been running scenarios in my head trying to figure out what could have possibly happened that caused Adam Hermanson to be electrocuted in his shower at Camp Olympia in the International (Green) Zone.

There is always a chance there could be something unusual in any electrical system in Iraq. I’ve seen light fixtures, switches and heaters installed in showers. But, there are only a few obvious components that could energize an improperly grounded water system.

1. A water pump. Water pumps are VERY common in Iraq and are found on most buildings. It was an improperly grounded failed water pump that caused SSG Ryan Maseth’s death at Radwaniyah Palace Complex.
2. An electrically operated valve. Not commonly found in a water system in Iraq but not unheard of.
3. An electric water heater. Probably the most common device in a water system. Every bathroom and kitchen is going to have at least one if not more depending on the demand for hot water.

Sticking with the most common devices I am going to narrow it down to the water pump or water heater as the culprit.

Now, taking into account a comment that was made me that the water heater from the bathroom where Adam died had been removed almost immediately, one must conclude the water heater was the failed component that most likely caused Adam’s death.

Through deductive reasoning I am going to conclude that one phase of the water heater came in contact with everything that should have been grounded and bonded including the water heater tank and metal water lines.

It is very reasonable to assume in this particular case, the water heater, the electrical panel and entire building were NOT properly bonded and grounded. This has been an ongoing problem in Iraq and is the focus for the inspections performed by Task Force SAFE.

I’m sure Task Force SAFE was involved in the investigation after Adam’s death. I will be interested to see what their findings are.

I would also like to know if this building was on the list to be inspected by Task Force SAFE. If not why not?

Ms Sparky

UPDATE: “The Nation” just came out with another investigative article by Jeremy Scahill on Adam Hermanson’s death. Here is an excerpt from that article. Looks like I was not too far off in my assumptions. Now I ask…”Did someone tamper with a crime scene?”

On the second day in Dover, Dr. Martin came to the Hermansons’ hotel room and told them that Adam’s quarters in Baghdad had basically been gutted. “He said, ‘Well, I have some information,’” Patricia recalls. “‘They have removed all the plumbing, the water heater, the electrical wiring’” from the quarters. According to Moreno, Dr. Martin told them that “the water heater had been taken out, the electrical box, all associated wiring in the building had been taken out.” When the family asked why, Dr. Martin said he thought Triple Canopy wanted to inspect it. Patricia said she thought Dr. Martin was implying that the company didn’t want anyone else to get hurt, but his statement also led the family to suspect that crucial evidence may have been tampered with; evidence that could help to answer their lingering questions about Adam’s death.

Click HERE to read the entire Jeremy Scahill article at “The Nation”.

DoS vs. DoD in the most recent shower electrocution

September 9, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Another Mysterious Electrocution Death in Iraq

By Jeremy Scahill
September 9, 2009

Adam Vernon Hermanson “was a natural-born leader,” according to his brother, Jesse. In 2002, just before his eighteenth birthday, Adam enlisted in the US military, armed with the required permission from his parents because he was not legally an adult. Adam spent six years in the Air Force. In all, he did three tours in Iraq and one in Uzbekistan. After he was honorably discharged from the military in early 2009 with the rank of staff sergeant, Hermanson took up employment as a private bodyguard in his hometown of Las Vegas, where, according to his family, he protected a wealthy individual. But according to Jesse, Adam was interested in returning to Iraq as a private military contractor. “He had been talking about it a lot; he was interested in Blackwater,” Jesse recalls.

In May, Adam signed a contract that would put him back in the action–as a private contractor for Triple Canopy, the company that the State Department has chosen to take over much of Blackwater’s security work in Iraq. According to his cousin, Paul Moreno, Hermanson was offered about $350 a day for a four-month contract. “It happened real fast,” Jesse remembers. “He didn’t want the family to know and get worried. He actually did it behind the backs of the family–my mom found out a day and a half before he was going. We were trying to change his mind and say it wasn’t worth the money, but he felt that he needed to do it to pay off bills and get a house and be financially secure.” Jesse adds, “He had also tried to get a job in Vegas as a Metro Police officer, and they denied him even with all of his training.” Adam’s mother, Patricia, says, “We know he disliked it. His plan was that after four months he was going to leave Triple Canopy and get a house.”

Hermanson arrived in Iraq in June and took up residence inside the Green Zone at Triple Canopy’s base at Camp Olympia. His family said his e-mails were brief and primarily made up of questions about how everyone else was doing. As for his work, he told the family he wasn’t allowed to say much. “The last time I talked to him, I noticed that it wasn’t really Adam–the way he talked,” Patricia recalls. “He said he was working seventeen-hour days. When I asked how it was going there, he said, ‘I can’t really say much, but let’s just say the average Joe couldn’t be here and do what we do.’”

Earlier this week, Hermanson returned home on a flight to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. His body was in a coffin. (for a photo of Adam and to read the rest of the great article by Jeremy Scahill click HERE)

Here’s a list of statements (disclaimers) from the key players:

KBR(Heather Speaks)-”KBR has no operations or maintenance responsibility for the living, office, or shower facilities at Camp Olympia, the Triple Canopy compound where the death occurred. Nor does KBR maintain the electrical system in the facilities or for the camp,” KBR spokesperson Heather Browne said in a statement to The Nation. “We have found no evidence that that KBR constructed the camp, installed the electrical system, or ever had any operations or maintenance responsibility for the living, office, or shower facilities.”

Triple Canopy-1. Jayanti Menches, a spokeswoman for Triple Canopy, said in an e-mail (to the AP) that the company was saddened by his death but would not be commenting further until an investigation was complete. 2. Triple Canopy would not comment on whether it did the electrical wiring for the facility where Hermanson died or if an outside contractor was involved. A Triple Canopy spokesperson told The Nation she was “unable to provide additional information at this time.” (Hmmmm)

The State Department – 1. State Department spokesman Robert Wood also offered condolences to the family, but would not elaborate further on the cause of death, pending an investigation.(AP) 2. From The Nation: Editor’s note: A State Department spokesperson called The Nation shortly after this story was posted to say that Hermanson was working on a Defense Department contract at the time of his death.

The Defense Department – 1. No Statement (Hmmmm) My DoD sources believe Adam was working on a State Department contract.

I pose these questions:

Is it possible that Triple Canopy employees who were working on both DoS and DoD contracts were both living at Camp Olympia? YES

Is it possible the DoS does not want any more bad publicity after the “Guards Gone Wild” incident in Kabul? YES

Is it possible that the DoD does not want any more bad publicity after the SSG Ryan Maseth electrocution and all the Congressional Hearings? YES

Is it possible that both DoS and DoD are telling Triple Canopy “Adam Hermanson DIDN’T work on our contract”? I WOULDN’T PUT IT PAST EITHER ONE OF THEM

What was the Task Force SAFE investigation findings. You know TFS sent a Subject Matter Expert to investigate the incident. Why would they do that if DoD or DoS was not the owner of the building? A courtesy? Damage control?

Who did the electrical maintenance?

I think there is much much more to this than meets the eye. Something stinks here.

I would like to thank everyone who has come forward with such valuable information and condolences for Adam’s family. Keep that info coming.

Ms Sparky

Adam Hermanson of Triple Canopy Electrocuted In Shower In Iraq

September 8, 2009 — Ms Sparky

I first blogged about this tragic death on Sept 2 after I had been notified it happened. You can read that post HERE

AP NewsBreak: Contractor electrocuted in shower

By KIMBERLY HEFLING
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

A State Department contractor apparently has been electrocuted while showering in Baghdad even as U.S. authorities in Iraq try to remedy bathhouse wiring problems that have led to the deaths of American troops there.

The contractor, Adam Hermanson, 25, died Sept. 1, his wife, Janine, said Tuesday. She added that a military medical examiner told her that preliminary findings indicate her husband died from low voltage electrocution.

Electrical wiring has been an ongoing problem in Iraq. At least three troops have been electrocuted in the shower since the start of the Iraq War. Inspections and repairs are under way at 90,000 U.S.-maintained facilities there.

Hermanson grew up in San Diego and Las Vegas. He joined the military at age 17, and did three tours in Iraq with the Air Force before leaving at the rank of staff sergeant. He returned to Iraq as an employee of the Herndon, Va.-based private contractor Triple Canopy.

Jayanti Menches, a spokeswoman for Triple Canopy, said in an e-mail that the company was saddened by his death but would not be commenting further until an investigation was complete.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood also offered condolences to the family, but would not elaborate further on the cause of death, pending an investigation.

Janine Hermanson said her husband took the contracting job so they would have money to buy a house in Muncy, Pa., where they were planning to live. She said she’d already moved there and was living with her parents.

The two would have celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary on Sunday.

“He was supposed to come back and we had a lot of plans,” said his wife, who also served in Iraq with the Air Force.

Besides three Iraq tours, Adam Hermanson served in Uzbekistan with the Air Force. His mother, Patricia Hermanson, 53, of Las Vegas, said everyone in her family was struggling to understand how he could survive four war tours, then die suddenly in a seemingly safe place.

“We all know that Adam was as strong as a tank,” his mother said. “He was in good health.” (click HERE for original article)

We are still looking for more information on this incident, such as:

1. Who had the O&M (electrical maintenance) contract for Camp Olympia which is supposedly across from Union III and is in the International Zone/ Green Zone.

2. What is the building number for the building Adam died in?

3. Who is doing the criminal investigation? CID? NCIS? FBI? Department of State Inspector General?

This really infuriates me. It has been 20 months since SSG Ryan Maseth was electrocuted and died in his shower. And it’s still not safe to take a shower after work in Iraq. So what has happened to the 100’s of millions of US Taxpayer dollars that went to line the pockets of KBR and SBH? I would say the DCMA has some explaining to do.

If you have any information regarding Adam Hermanson’s death please contact me by clicking HERE and I promise to get the information to the family or their attorney.

My most sincere condolences to Adam’s family. I pledge to do whatever I can to help you find the answers you deserve.

Ms Sparky

ANOTHER electrocution death in a shower in Iraq

September 2, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Exactly 20 months ago today SSG Ryan Maseth was electrocuted and died in his shower at Radwaniyah Palace Complex in Baghdad. Ryan’s mother, Cheryl Harris mounted an all out assault on the DoD for their total lack of control and oversight on KBR’s LOGCAP contract therefore allowing KBR to kill her son. My mistake….the CID disagreed with the DoD Inspector General and thinks it was an accident. Cheryl’s primary concern has always been the safety of the troops and civilians. It’s because of Cheryl that there is a Task Force SAFE and safer living conditions for EVERYONE in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But sadly that that was not enough for the 25 year old male who died of electrocution in a shower on September 1, 2009 at Camp Olympia in the International Zone (Green Zone) in Baghdad, Iraq. Currently that is all the information I have.

I need your help to fill in the blanks for my readers. We need to get the word out before whoever is responsible can sweep this under the rug and make it look like ANOTHER ACCIDENT!! (That was for the CID in Ryan’s case) Here are my questions.

What is the persons name? Adam Hermanson
Was the correct date Sept 1, 2009? Yes
Was this person a Soldier-if so which unit? No.
Was this person a US civilian-if so who did they work for? Triple Canopy
Was this person a Third Country National-if so what country and who did they work for? American
Was this shower in an Ablution Unit (AB Unit), an existing hard structure or trailer housing (CHU or Hooch)? So far all reports say hardstand existing building.
What is the building/trailer number? Still need this
Who had the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) contract-KBR, Inglett & Stubbs or someone else? Still need this
Has this facility been inspected by Task Force SAFE? If so when? There was an after accident investigation. Still unclear if this building was was inspected prior to this incident or was on the deferred list.
If it has been inspected by TFS who did the repairs? KBR, Inglett & Stubbs or someone else? Still unkown
Are there any outstanding repairs to be done? Still unkown
Have there been any service orders or complaints about shocks in this facility? Still unkown

I’m sure more questions will come up but I think that’s it for now. If you have information other than what is asked for send it as well. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment to this post click HERE to send me an email. Anonymous is OK. I will make sure all information gets to the appropriate investigators.

I do believe this is the second electrocution in the International Zone (Green Zone). Andy Barsamian was the first. He was an Armenian TCN/FN electrician who worked for KBR in the Green Zone at Camp Prosperity (D-2). He was electrocuted and died on November 13, 2005. If you have any information about Andy’s death or information about any other electrocution deaths or serious shock injuries please contact me.

Ms Sparky

UPDATE: Clikc HERE for the most recent blog post and media coverage on this incident.

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