Politics As Usual
Shining a Light on Power and Policy
Tom Shine covers congressional politics for ABC News.
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'There Lying on the Ground, Was My Son's Body, Burnt and Smoldering'
July 11, 2008 10:58 AM
Cheryl Harris is a mother. She had three sons, including a set of twins, all serving in the military. On January 8th, 2008, at 9:45pm she got that knock on the door and that visit from a military chaplain and two non-commissioned officers. One of her twin sons, Ryan had died in Iraq. But he was not killed by gunfire or a roadside bomb. He was killed by a SHOWER.
"And he wasn't just electrocuted from a single shock. Because the water pump and the water tank were either incorrectly wired and/or the circuit panel was not functioning properly, MY SON LAY IN ELECTRIFIED WATER until he was discovered by a fellow soldier who KICKED THE DOOR DOWN. THERE LYING ON THE GROUND, WAS MY SON'S BODY, BURNT and SMOLDERING. One of the Soldiers who attempted to rescue Ryan was himself SEVERELY SHOCKED because the electrical current was still running through the water and pipes in Ryan's bathroom."
That is what Cheryl Harris will tell Senate Democrats who hold a hearing on waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq this morning. In her testimony she says she has learned that contractor KELLOGG BROWN & ROOT, KBR, knew of the shoddy electrical wiring 11 MONTHS BEFORE her son was killed when they made an inspection of his building. "The deficiencies KBR noted on that date included, among others, the fact that the building's main circuit panel, the secondary feeder panel, and the water tank WERE NOT GROUNDED. The wiring leading into the secondary electrical panel was not sized properly for the main breakers, did not have proper thermal coating and did not meet either U.S. or British electrical standards. Additionally, the circuit beaker was rendered inoperable because TAR used to seal the breaker box had MELTED in the summer into the panel itself."
"Ryan was an ARMY RANGER and a GREEN BERET. He could have survived weeks in isolation behind enemy lines. He was trained to handle adversity that few of us can fathom. It is unacceptable that EXTREME RECKLESSNESS and a total disregard for public safety has deprived the army of this exemplary young soldier and deprived my family of our son and brother."
Cheryl Harris will be joined by another mother who lost her son in Iraq when he was electrocuted power washing his humvee at a base maintenance center.
According to Senator Byron Dorgan, who will chair the hearing, General David Petraeus has said at least 13 Americans have been electrocuted in Iraq since the war began and many more soldiers have received severe shocks from faulty electrical wiring on military bases in Iraq.
July 11, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (7)
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what a shame!!!!
Posted by: ANGIE | Jul 11, 2008 11:25:32 AM
Wow, if I was this mother I would be furious and disgusted. It sounds like Ryan had worked very hard and should have had a really bright future. May God bless this family and may their faith and love be strengthened and not weakened by this tragedy.
Posted by: Melly | Jul 11, 2008 12:00:48 PM
This is a horrible, needless tragedy. We continue to see these tragedies because there are people in power who believe that any oversight is a restriction of the rights of corporations to make a profit.
What is even sadder is how many Americans have bought it, hook, line and sinker, and never demand any accountability from the corporations.
Although nothing will ever take the place of her child, hopefully Mrs. Harris will find some justice, somehow.
Posted by: Truth Matters | Jul 11, 2008 12:22:35 PM
As an electrician in the US, I can't for the life of me understand why they didn't use a GFCI (ground fault circuit interupter) device. They are inexpensive and required wherever electricity is to be used near water. Kitchens, bathrooms and hot tub areas use them. They will cut the power in a 60th of a second and prevent electrocution.
Posted by: Edith Smith | Jul 11, 2008 12:42:51 PM
Amen! Julian
Posted by: Bobbi | Jul 11, 2008 1:24:01 PM
condolences to the family.
Posted by: sonia trevino | Jul 11, 2008 2:15:54 PM
Our government is disgusting, and that's putting it mildly. Corporate profit and greed have overridden every moral and value this country ever had.
This Mother's grief will not be assuaged by any action of Congress. This particular Congress has been unworthy of their position from the time they took office. America is a shadow of what it used to be. We are not worthy of our soldiers and their sacrifice. May this soldier, and all others who have died by the USA's lack of care and concern for their welfare, Rest in Peace.
Posted by: Ladywolf | Jul 29, 2008 10:39:48 AM
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