Security

Since finishing Colin Freeman's new book, The Curse of the Al Dulaimi Hotel, I've been thinking a lot about security. In theory, Kirk von Ackermann disappeared on an isolated road in an area he had previously identified as dangerous. Ryan Manelick died in what's more or less been described as a drive by shooting.

I'd like to know more about both men's approaches to their security although I know that's not a very realistic possibility. At best, the information will be hearsay. That said, a number of the Ultra Services principals socialized and were friends with security advisers. Their contact and interaction implies both men at minimum must have known the risks.

All of this thinking on security just stirs up questions, of course.

Kirk von Ackermann*

What is known about von Ackermann's views on security?
Had he ever offered advice to the other personnel at Ultra Services?
If so, what was that advice - is there a record - say in an old email?
Did he violate his own advice the day he disappeared?
Why did he travel alone that day?
Did he ever travel alone during his prior trips to Iraq?
Did he usually use a 'fixer' or translator?
If so, who and where was that person?
Who knew his travel plans that day?

Ryan Manelick

What is known about Manelick's views on security?
What was a typical defensive practice for avoiding drive by shootings?
He had friends in security, how aware was Manelick of those practices?
Was he prepared, did he ignore advice, had he grown complacent?
Did Manelick or his driver violate common security practices?
If so, why?

It all comes down to this final question: what was it that made each man vulnerable?

Additional Reading

Review of The Curse of the al Dulaimi Hotel
By Susie Dow, ePluribus Media, August 18, 2008

Missing Contractor: US Military Mechanics may Hold the Keys
By Susie Dow, ePluribus Media, April 21, 2008

* Assumption to date is Kirk von Ackermann disappeared between Tikrit and Kirkuk.

Omar Taleb and Omar Hadi

Two Omars.

This is a look at who they were in relation to those at Ultra Services.

Omar Taleb

Writer Daniel Halpern refers to John Dawkins' body guard in his article for Rolling Stone, Death of a Contractor.

...Omar Taleb, an official in the Iraqi police and a former helicopter pilot in the Iraqi Air Force.

That's pretty much it.

Omar Hadi

Colin Freeman dedicates a chapter of his new book, Curse of the Al Dulaimi Hotel, to the journey into Iraq, appropriately called, The Road to Baghdad. Responding to an ad on a bulletin board at the Intercontinental Hotel in Amman, Jordan, Freeman caught a ride with a British Iraqi named Omar Hadi. Hadi had hired a car and driver to make the trip into Iraq and was taking passengers.

Hadi left Iraq at age 5 and was described as speaking with a public school accent (posh in other words). He was accompanied by John Dawkins whom he was said to have met in Kazakhstan. Hadi was traveling with an elderly aunt and two Japanese filmmakers. The group traveled under the pretense they were working with Tokyo TV - which was how they got Jordanian press cards to enter Iraq.

Hadi stayed at the Al Majalis hotel and visited US bases with Dawkins. Freeman described Hadi as a "business associate" although it's unclear what that really means.

Research

Around April/May 2003, Omar Hadi and Richard Galustian founded ISI Group of Iraq, a security company. From an article first published in the newsletter Gulf State News:

A few local firms have recruited US, British and other former special forces personnel to take on the international players at their own game. ISI Group of Iraq, created by expatriate Iraqis Omar Hadi and Richard Galustian offers former British special forces operatives and says it was the first Iraqi-owned company to be awarded a security contract by the US occupying authorities.

Omar Hadi was listed on various websites as the point of contact for ISI Group. Coincidentally, Richard Galustian was quoted in Death of a Contractor:

[Ryan] Manelick had been in Iraq for less than two months, but he was already plotting to break away from Dawkins and start his own company. He talked less about idealistic notions of helping Iraqis -- now he wanted to make the big money, and he began dreaming up grand, unrealistic schemes. "Ryan had all these plans," says Richard Galustian, a contractor who befriended Manelick in Iraq, "and he could talk about them forever -- he was a wonderful talker. But he had no idea how to make them work, or how far out of his league they were." Manelick wrote to his father about the two of them starting their own security outfit, assuring him that if they acted fast there was a $100 million contract for force protection and security training he was sure they could get. The plans were far removed from reality -- he wanted to build a company from nothing and compete with giant corporations like Bechtel or Halliburton in a matter of months -- but what was real was his intense desire to break away from Dawkins and start something new.

Richard Galustian's father originally owned a company Galustian Engineering Export Company (GEECO) in Tehran before moving to the UK in the 1950's. In 1974, the son was made CEO of his father's group of companies. In 2001, Richard Galustian created Gemini Consultants in the UAE. Galustian was at some point also connected to Pilgrims Group, a "security, risk management and service support company," said to provide security to journalists (ref).

Because of the gap in time between 1974 and 2001, I'm wondering if there were two Richard Galustians, a father and his son.

Additional Reading

Death of a Contractor: Greed and Murder in Iraq's Lawless Desert
pp. 70-74, 76-69 (print version includes photos)
By Dan Halpern, Rolling Stone, March 8, 2007, Issue 1021

Curse of the Al Dulaimi Hotel: And Other Half-truths from Baghdad
By Colin Freeman, Monday Books, July 2008

Profits questions and consolidation for private security firms lifted by the ‘Baghdad bubble’
By Gulf State News, reprinted at NGO Coordination Committee in Iraq (NCCI), November 23, 2005

In Iraq, private contractors lighten load on U.S. troops
By Borzou Daragahi, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 28, 2003

Security Companies Doing Business in Iraq as of 2004
From the US State Department, archived at Global Security

The website for ISI Group of Iraq at http://www.isiiraq.com can be seen at the Internet Archive
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.isiiraq.com

Commercial Services in Iraq

The ISI Group of Companies is comprised of ISI Commercial Services, ISI Security, ISI Logistics and ISI International. We started operation in Iraq late April 2003. We currently employ over 100 Iraqi staff.

Ahmed Al-Taie

Spc. Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie (also Ahmed K. Altaie) of Ann-Arbor, Michigan was kidnapped on October 23, 2006

41-year-old Specialist in the US Army. Altaie is a linguist (translator) with the Provincial Reconstruction Team Baghdad. Married. Altaie was kidnapped with his brother-in-law when he went to visit his wife in Baghdad. His brother-in-law was quickly freed. A ransom demand was made for $250,000. Altaie has not been heard from since a proof of life video was released by his captors on February 14, 2007.

There's a short update this week in the Detroit newspaper. Still no word of his whereabouts.

Missing Michigan soldier's loved ones want his story told
By Korie Wilkins, Detroit Free Press, August 21, 2008

Sgt. Ahmed Al-Taie, kidnapped Oct. 23, 2006, is possibly the last U.S. soldier captured since the start of the 2003 combat operations in Iraq who has not been found. So his friends and family scan Internet sites, check e-mail, wait for phone calls and updates from the military. And they believe he's still alive, waiting to come home.

Al-Taie, a native Iraqi, joined the U.S. Army at age 40 to pursue a new career as an interpreter. He came to the United States in 1984 and recently lived in Ann Arbor.

Additional Reading

A Ransom Demand for the Missing U.S. Soldier
By Brian Bennett, Time, November 2, 2006

Abducted Altaie Seen in Video - with updates
AII POW-MIA, February 14, 2007

al-Taayie
Wikipedia, includes additional sources

The Curse of the Al Dulaimi Hotel - Pt III

This is a reprint of my original book review first posted at ePluribus Media.

Susie Dow reviews Curse of the Al Dulaimi Hotel: and other half-truths from Baghdad by Colin Freeman, now the Chief Foreign Correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph. Landing in Baghdad on May 1, 2003 as an independent journalist, Freeman's new novel reveals the story behind getting the story including the hilarious antics of his charmingly insane personal assistant, Mohammed Kadom.

August 22nd at 5.01pm. 'Colin, hello, I am Mohammed. When are you coming back?'

August 29th at 2.45pm. 'Colin, hello, I am Mohammed. Man, I have no money and needing the job most desperately. Please ring Jean-Phillipe speedily.'

September 5th at 5.25pm. 'OK, COLIN, FUCK YOU! YOU ARE MY FRIEND BUT YOU DON'T EVEN RING BACK TO ME. FUCK YOU! I WILL FIND THE NEW JOB BY MYSELVES.'

I wish I could figure out a clever way to convey to you how much fun it was to read The Curse of Al Dulaimi Hotel. I realize that's not a politically correct introduction - after all it's a non-fiction book set in Baghdad circa 2003 through 2005, people are fighting and dying and there's more than one war going on. That's not funny. But I'd be lying if I didn't just come right out and tell you the book is filled with hilarious anecdotes, many so much stranger than fiction, that they must be true and therefore are even funnier as a result. While the humor doesn't qualify as gallows, it is dark. And there were times I definitely felt like I'd accidentally stumbled into the wrong bar at the wrong moment.

'When I drove to the hotel today I saw this beautiful chick, with the huge tits and the ass,' he announced one morning, as I sat with two other foreign journalists. 'I got very erect!'

I stared at him, aghast. Had he really just said what I thought he'd said?

'Er, what do you mean, Mohammed?'

'Erect! You know. Like this!' He pointed to his groin area. The assembled company probably thought Mohammed and I regularly compared erections together.

'Er, Mohammed, I don't think that's really the right word. If a girl, er, makes you feel sexy, you say she turns you on. As in, to turn on a generator.'

'Ok, good. So, anyways, this chick turns me on like a generator...'

Author Colin Freeman holds the honor of being the last Western war correspondent to enter Iraq. His career as a war correspondent, however, was extremely short lived. Just hours after Freeman crossed the border, President George W. Bush announced the end of major hostilities.

Having ditched a steady job writing about road works at the London Evening Standard for the glamor of working in war torn Baghdad, Freeman spends the next two years writing about...roads. Stuck on roads. Driving on roads. Lost on roads. Intended or not, roads are a central theme through out the book. (Well, that and the bad whiskey.) No city today is complete without its noise and traffic. But add some desert heat, grime, guns, bad tempers, looters in stolen buses, car bombs, road side bombs, Humvees, more guns, kidnappers and journalists and it's Baghdad. A city in a country suddenly trying to find its way on its own after thirty years of being told what to do.

We plunged down the wrong way onto a dual carriageway, the cab swerving in and out of oncoming players like a rugby scrum-half heading for the tryline.

'Tell me Haider, why is it that people drive the wrong way down the road here?'

'These Iraqi drivers,' he said as if no further explanation was necessary.

'Yes, but why? Isn't it dangerous, yes?' I pointed at the cars hurtling past us on either side and grimaced and whistled.

Conversation with Haider, I realised, was going to be like playing charades. With a bit of gesturing, persistence and intelligent guesswork, the two of us could sometimes reach a breakthrough.

'Ah, we call this driving "wrong side." Same as in English. Is from Saddam time. The cars of all the big government people would drive down the wrong side, making common people get out of the way. Now everybody is free, so they want to try this themselves.'

I first became aware of Colin Freeman's work on the evening of November 9, 2003 while researching Iraq reconstruction contracts. There was an article in the UK Telegraph about a missing American contractor by the name of Kirk von Ackermann who worked for Ultra Services out of Istanbul, Turkey. The company provided logistics to the US Army. Von Ackermann disappeared the month before, his vehicle found abandoned on a road between Tikrit and Kirkuk. Colin Freeman broke the story. His primary source at the time was another Ultra Services employee, Ryan Manelick. Two months later, Manelick was killed in a drive by shooting just after leaving a meeting at a base near Balad. Shortly before he was killed, Manelick had alleged von Ackermann's disappearance was connected to fraud and that it involved US Army officers. Colin Freeman broke that story as well.

Ultra Services weaves in and out of The Curse of al Dulaimi Hotel, appearing as early as page 26 with the introduction of one of the company principals, John Dawkins. Freeman shared his first ride into Iraq with Dawkins and another colleague, Omar. Freeman also spent his first night at the same hotel in Baghdad as Dawkins, the Al Majalis, eventually settling in as a regular.

Before I give the wrong impression that The Curse of al Dulaimi Hotel is all about Ultra Services or kidnappings and murders - which in part it is because it's also about Iraq - let me more properly introduce you to one of the stars of the book, former Staff Colonel Mohammed Kadom. The Colonel is Colin Freeman's first 'fixer' in Baghdad.

To get around, an English speaking journalist needs someone to handle logistics, translation, security, some driving and a little bit of haggling - in short, a 'fixer.' A former Iraqi officer and Ba'ath party member, the Colonel looked like Burt Reynolds circa 1980 and liked to listen to the Bee Gees.

What made it all infinitely more bearable was having Mohammed around. I was now the envy of other journalists. Very few had a translator who was simultaneously fluent, hardworking, streetwise and good company. Occasionally other reporters even tried to poach him off with offers of better money. Touchingly, he always told them his first loyalty was to Mr. Colin, the man who'd first given him a job when he'd been cruising the streets as a cabbie. Actually, it turned out he hadn't really been doing that. Over a beer one night he confessed that he'd actually been selling guns at the time. The day he picked me up, he'd had a stash of Kalashnikovs in the back of the Nissan.

In need of the promise of a steady paycheck, the Colonel eventually went to work for Ryan Manelick, also securing jobs at the company for his brothers.

I don't want to give too much away or it will ruin the joy of discovery. Suffice it to say, there's some thing for every one in The Curse of al Dulaimi Hotel. News junkies will get high from the constant buzz of deja vu as people, places, and events pop off the pages. The deja vu is in itself a strange sensation: an undercurrent of invisible context that readers 50 years from now just won't be able to fully appreciate. Car bombings - you saw the images on the news played over and over again - Freeman heard and sometimes felt the blast. The Palestine Hotel. Fallujah. Basra. Tikrit. James Brandon. Georges Malbrunot and Jill Caroll - both neighbors in the same hotel. (Carroll plays darts.)

For the armchair traveler, an upfront and personal introduction to hotel rooms, a brothel or two, and bathroom facilities you'll never ever have to confront in person. Just the description of some of the rooms made me itchy. There's not too much about food. Freeman spares us the tell tale signs of gas pains before the arrival of diarrhea (Thank you, Colin) but only just barely. For the armchair adventurer, there's no shortage of danger, complete with a detailed description of what it feels like to be shot in the arse.

My only complaint, if I had one, is I wish I could have heard the stories in person over a pint.

The Curse of the Al Dulaimi Hotel: and other half-truths from Baghdad
By Colin Freeman
Monday Books, July 2008
ISBN-10: 1906308020
ISBN-13: 978-1906308025
272 pages

Colin Freeman is now the Chief Foreign Correspondent for the Sunday Telegraph in London.

The Curse of the Al Dulaimi Hotel

This is a repost of my book review, Review of The Curse of the al Dulaimi Hotel
By Susie Dow, ePluribus Media, August 18, 2008.

Landing in Baghdad on May 1, 2003 as an independent journalist, Colin Freeman's new book reveals the story behind getting the story including the hilarious antics of his charmingly insane personal assistant, Mohammed Kadom. Colin Freeman is now the Chief Foreign Correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph.

August 22nd at 5.01pm. 'Colin, hello, I am Mohammed. When are you coming back?'

August 29th at 2.45pm. 'Colin, hello, I am Mohammed. Man, I have no money and needing the job most desperately. Please ring Jean-Phillipe speedily.'

September 5th at 5.25pm. 'OK, COLIN, FUCK YOU! YOU ARE MY FRIEND BUT YOU DON'T EVEN RING BACK TO ME. FUCK YOU! I WILL FIND THE NEW JOB BY MYSELVES.'

I wish I could figure out a clever way to convey to you how much fun it was to read The Curse of Al Dulaimi Hotel. I realize that's not a politically correct introduction - after all it's a non-fiction book set in Baghdad circa 2003 through 2005, people are fighting and dying and there's more than one war going on. That's not funny. But I'd be lying if I didn't just come right out and tell you the book is filled with hilarious anecdotes, many so much stranger than fiction, that they must be true and therefore are even funnier as a result. While the humor doesn't qualify as gallows, it is dark. And there were times I definitely felt like I'd accidentally stumbled into the wrong bar at the wrong moment.

'When I drove to the hotel today I saw this beautiful chick, with the huge tits and the ass,' he announced one morning, as I sat with two other foreign journalists. 'I got very erect!'

I stared at him, aghast. Had he really just said what I thought he'd said?

'Er, what do you mean, Mohammed?'

'Erect! You know. Like this!' He pointed to his groin area. The assembled company probably thought Mohammed and I regularly compared erections together.

'Er, Mohammed, I don't think that's really the right word. If a girl, er, makes you feel sexy, you say she turns you on. As in, to turn on a generator.'

'Ok, good. So, anyways, this chick turns me on like a generator...'

Author Colin Freeman holds the honor of being the last Western war correspondent to enter Iraq. His career as a war correspondent, however, was extremely short lived. Just hours after Freeman crossed the border, President George W. Bush announced the end of major hostilities.

Having ditched a steady job writing about road works at the London Evening Standard for the glamor of working in war torn Baghdad, Freeman spends the next two years writing about...roads. Stuck on roads. Driving on roads. Lost on roads. Intended or not, roads are a central theme through out the book. (Well, that and the bad whiskey.) No city today is complete without its noise and traffic. But add some desert heat, grime, guns, bad tempers, looters in stolen buses, car bombs, road side bombs, Humvees, more guns, kidnappers and journalists and it's Baghdad. A city in a country suddenly trying to find its way on its own after thirty years of being told what to do.

We plunged down the wrong way onto a dual carriageway, the cab swerving in and out of oncoming players like a rugby scrum-half heading for the tryline.

'Tell me Haider, why is it that people drive the wrong way down the road here?'

'These Iraqi drivers,' he said as if no further explanation was necessary.

'Yes, but why? Isn't it dangerous, yes?' I pointed at the cars hurtling past us on either side and grimaced and whistled.

Conversation with Haider, I realised, was going to be like playing charades. With a bit of gesturing, persistence and intelligent guesswork, the two of us could sometimes reach a breakthrough.

'Ah, we call this driving "wrong side." Same as in English. Is from Saddam time. The cars of all the big government people would drive down the wrong side, making common people get out of the way. Now everybody is free, so they want to try this themselves.'

I first became aware of Colin Freeman's work on the evening of November 9, 2003 while researching Iraq reconstruction contracts. There was an article in the UK Telegraph about a missing American contractor by the name of Kirk von Ackermann who worked for Ultra Services out of Istanbul, Turkey. The company provided logistics to the US Army. Von Ackermann disappeared the month before, his vehicle found abandoned on a road between Tikrit and Kirkuk. Colin Freeman broke the story. His primary source at the time was another Ultra Services employee, Ryan Manelick. Two months later, Manelick was killed in a drive by shooting just after leaving a meeting at a base near Balad. Shortly before he was killed, Manelick had alleged von Ackermann's disappearance was connected to fraud and that it involved US Army officers. Colin Freeman broke that story as well.

Ultra Services weaves in and out of The Curse of al Dulaimi Hotel, appearing as early as page 26 with the introduction of one of the company principals, John Dawkins. Freeman shared his first ride into Iraq with Dawkins and another colleague, Omar. Freeman also spent his first night at the same hotel in Baghdad as Dawkins, the Al Majalis, eventually settling in as a regular.

Before I give the wrong impression that The Curse of al Dulaimi Hotel is all about Ultra Services or kidnappings and murders - which in part it is because it's also about Iraq - let me more properly introduce you to one of the stars of the book, former Staff Colonel Mohammed Kadom. The Colonel is Colin Freeman's first 'fixer' in Baghdad.

To get around, an English speaking journalist needs someone to handle logistics, translation, security, some driving and a little bit of haggling - in short, a 'fixer.' A former Iraqi officer and Ba'ath party member, the Colonel looked like Burt Reynolds circa 1980 and liked to listen to the Bee Gees.

What made it all infinitely more bearable was having Mohammed around. I was now the envy of other journalists. Very few had a translator who was simultaneously fluent, hardworking, streetwise and good company. Occasionally other reporters even tried to poach him off with offers of better money. Touchingly, he always told them his first loyalty was to Mr. Colin, the man who'd first given him a job when he'd been cruising the streets as a cabbie. Actually, it turned out he hadn't really been doing that. Over a beer one night he confessed that he'd actually been selling guns at the time. The day he picked me up, he'd had a stash of Kalashnikovs in the back of the Nissan.

In need of the promise of a steady paycheck, the Colonel eventually went to work for Ryan Manelick, also securing jobs at the company for his brothers.

I don't want to give too much away or it will ruin the joy of discovery. Suffice it to say, there's some thing for every one in The Curse of al Dulaimi Hotel. News junkies will get high from the constant buzz of deja vu as people, places, and events pop off the pages. The deja vu is in itself a strange sensation: an undercurrent of invisible context that readers 50 years from now just won't be able to fully appreciate. Car bombings - you saw the images on the news played over and over again - Freeman heard and sometimes felt the blast. The Palestine Hotel. Fallujah. Basra. Tikrit. James Brandon. Georges Malbrunot and Jill Caroll - both neighbors in the same hotel. (Carroll plays darts.)

For the armchair traveler, an upfront and personal introduction to hotel rooms, a brothel or two, and bathroom facilities you'll never ever have to confront in person. Just the description of some of the rooms made me itchy. There's not too much about food. Freeman spares us the tell tale signs of gas pains before the arrival of diarrhea (Thank you, Colin) but only just barely. For the armchair adventurer, there's no shortage of danger, complete with a detailed description of what it feels like to be shot in the arse.

My only complaint, if I had one, is I wish I could have heard the stories in person over a pint.

---

The Curse of the Al Dulaimi Hotel: and other half-truths from Baghdad
By Colin Freeman
Monday Books, July 2008
ISBN-10: 1906308020
ISBN-13: 978-1906308025
272 pages

Colin Freeman is now the Chief Foreign Correspondent for the Sunday Telegraph in London.

Curse of the al Dulaimi Hotel - Pt II

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's hilarious. Colin Freeman's former 'fixer,' Mohammed Kadom, should star in his own reality television series. There's a book review at ePluribus Media for those who might be interested.

A few pieces of information came to light in the book. Most notable, I was unaware that Charles Phillips was in Baghdad the week after Kirk von Ackermann disappeared. As close friends, it's surprising he didn't take more of an interest in securing von Ackermann's personal effects. After all, Phillips brought von Ackermann to Iraq. I realize work doesn't come to a stand still. But at the same time, no one collected his belongings in an orderly manner? It's not clear how long Phillips had been in Iraq.

So, new question: when did Charles Phillips first arrive in country?

Colin Freeman describes visiting the spot where Kirk von Ackermann's vehicle was found on the road between Tikrit and Kirkuk. This is the only first hand description in the public domain that I am aware of.

Excerpt from page 136:

A few days later, I drove with Saba and Ali up to the area where Kirk had disappeared, to ask a few questions. I'd heard that a local Iraqi police chief was on the case; perhaps he might spill some details that Ryan and Co were keeping quiet. It turned out he'd recently been sacked after some row with a rival, with none of his successors briefed about the disappearance. Later on, though, when I tracked him down to his house, I found him still in uniform with a dozen odd policemen at his disposal, running what seemed to be some kind of parallel force. He claimed to know John Dawkins, and said he had turned up not long before with photocopied pictures of Kirk, asking if anyone had seen him. He directed us to the spot where Kirk had vanished. It was near the brow of a long, winding hilltop road, miles from anywhere and surrounded by rocky outcrops. A long way from any help if you got yourself in a tight spot. At the bottom of the other side of the hill, there was a US Army checkpoint, where Dawkins had handed over a copy of Kirk's photograph. But during troop changeovers, no information was passed on about the case. The newcomers were unaware of who Kirk was, or why they had his photo. In a land where hundreds were dying or disappearing each week, no one had resources to spend time looking for another missing person.

Here's an uncomfortable question: was the check point visible from the very top of the hill?

Additional Reading

Review of The Curse of the al Dulaimi Hotel
By Susie Dow, ePluribus Media, August 18, 2008

Description: Landing in Baghdad on May 1, 2003 as an independent journalist, Colin Freeman's new book reveals the story behind getting the story including the hilarious antics of his charmingly insane personal assistant, Mohammed Kadom. Colin Freeman is now the Chief Foreign Correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph.

Curse of the al Dulaimi Hotel - Pt I (image)
August 4, 2008

Curse of the al Dulaimi Hotel - Pt I

Colin Freeman, the journalist who first broke the story of Kirk von Ackermann and Ryan Manelick, has a new book out on his experiences in Iraq. I understand it includes a section on their story.

Curse of the Al Dulaimi Hotel: And Other Half-truths from Baghdad
By Colin Freeman
Monday Books
July 2008

Publishers description:

Colin Freeman is a burnt-out newspaper hack, wasting his life hanging around outside the houses of minor celebrities. His job is soul-destroyingly pointless and his personal life isn't much better. His girlfriend wants commitment he can't give and the future looks bleak. So he jacks it all in and goes to Iraq – as Britain's most amateur war correspondent. Shacked up in a filthy $5 a night hotel, he finds a city – and a country – in turmoil. Half the people he meets are mad, drunk or fanatical (and armed to the teeth) and the other half are trying to rebuild their lives after George Bush's invasion. Against the odds, Freeman finds his feet as a reporter and reveals a slice of Iraq unlike any other and gets shot in the backside for his troubles.

Additional Reading

Mystery surrounds US businessman missing in Iraq's 'Sunni triangle'
by Colin Freeman, Telegraph, November 9, 2003

Bay Area civilian vanishes in Iraq
by Colin Freeman, San Francisco Chronicle, November 11, 2003

Suspicion surrounds missing Bay Area man
by Colin Freeman, San Francisco Chronicle, February 13, 2005

Casualty Status of Missing

This post expands on the topic of casualty status as relates to missing personnel. Right about now, you probably want me to stop quoting Department of Defense Publications. I kinda think this one is important and suggest reading through to the end.

Each casualty is composed of a) Type, b) Status, and c) Category.

DoD Instruction 1300.18 - "Personnel Casualty Matters, Policies, and Procedures"
From the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, January 8, 2008
- replacing DoD Instruction 1300.18, “Military Personnel Casualty Matters, Policies, and Procedures,” December 18, 2000 (hereby canceled)

4 CASUALTY INFORMATION (page 38)

Use the chart below when completing blocks 4a (TYPE), 4b (STATUS), and 4c (CATEGORY). Only these combinations are authorized. Definitions are contained in Enclosure 2. The word Pending can only be used on Initial or Interim reports.

Taken from the Section E.2 Definitions (page 26):

Type

E2.32. Hostile Casualty. A person who is the victim of a terrorist activity or who becomes a casualty "in action." "In action" characterizes the casualty as having been the direct result of hostile action, sustained in combat or relating thereto, or sustained going to or returning from a combat mission provided that the occurrence was directly related to hostile action. Included are persons killed or wounded mistakenly or accidentally by friendly fire directed at a hostile force or what is thought to be a hostile force. However, not to be considered as sustained in action and not to be interpreted as hostile casualties are injuries or death due to the elements, self-inflicted wounds, combat fatigue, and except in unusual cases, wounds or death inflicted by a friendly force while the individual is in an AWOL, deserter, or dropped-from-rolls status or is voluntarily absent without authority from a place of duty.

E2.38. Non-hostile Casualty. A person who becomes a casualty due to circumstances not directly attributable to hostile action or terrorist activity. Casualties due to the elements, self-inflicted wounds, and combat fatigue are non-hostile casualties.

[Again, "Pending" can only be used on Initial or Interim reports and from what I can glean, it pretty much means deceased...]

Status

E2.11 (page 27)

There are six casualty statuses: (1) deceased; (2) duty status – whereabouts unknown (DUSTWUN) for military, or excused absence – whereabouts unknown (EAWUN) for civilians; (3) missing; (4) very seriously ill or injured (VSI); (5) seriously ill or injured (SI); and (6) not seriously ill or injured (NSI). At the DoD Component’s discretion, an additional casualty status of Special Patient (SPECPAT) or Special Category (SPECAT) may be used [both are injury or illness related].

E2.20. Deceased. A casualty status applicable to a person who is either known to have died, determined to have died on the basis of conclusive evidence, or declared to be dead on the basis of a presumptive finding of death. The recovery of remains is not a prerequisite to determining or declaring a person deceased.

E2.26. Duty Status - Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN). A transitory casualty status, applicable only to military personnel, that is used when the responsible commander suspects the member may be a casualty, whose absence is involuntary, but does not feel sufficient evidence currently exists to make a determination of missing or deceased.

E2.28. Excused Absence – Whereabouts Unknown (EAWUN). An administrative status, applicable only to civilian personnel, that is used when the responsible commander suspects the employee may be a casualty, whose absence is involuntary, but does not feel sufficient evidence currently exists to make a determination of missing or deceased.

E2.37. Missing. A casualty status for which the United States Code provides statutory guidance concerning missing members of the Military Services. Excluded are personnel who are in an AWOL, deserter, or dropped-from-rolls status. [see categories below]

E2.54. Very Seriously Ill or Injured (VSI). The casualty status of a person whose illness or injury is such that medical authority declares it more likely than not that death will occur within 72 hours.

E2.50. Seriously Ill or Injured (SI). The casualty status of a person whose illness or injury requires medical attention, and medical authority declares that death is possible, but not likely within 72 hours, and/or the severity is such that it is permanent and life-altering.

E2.39. Not Seriously Ill or Injured (NSI). The casualty status of a person whose illness or injury requires medical attention, may or may not require hospitalization, and medical authority classifies as less severe than SI.

E2.49. Returned to Military Control (RMC). The status of a person whose casualty status of DUSTWUN or missing has been changed due to the person's return or recovery by U.S. military authority.

[Again, "Pending" can only be used on Initial or Interim reports.]

Note

E2.46. Prisoner of War (POW). POW is not a casualty status for reporting purposes. For reporting purposes, the casualty status and category would be missing-captured.

Category

A person declared missing is categorized as follows:

E2.37.1. Beleaguered. The casualty is a member of an organized element that has been surrounded by a hostile force to prevent escape of its members.

E2.37.2. Besieged. The casualty is a member of an organized element that has been surrounded by a hostile force, compelling it to surrender.

E2.37.3. Captured. The casualty has been seized as the result of action of an unfriendly military or paramilitary force in a foreign country. See also Prisoner of War (POW).

E2.37.4. Detained. The casualty is prevented from proceeding or is restrained in custody for alleged violation of international law or other reason claimed by the government or group under which the person is being held.

E2.37.5. Interned. The casualty is definitely known to have been taken into custody of a nonbelligerent foreign power as the result of and for reasons arising out of any armed conflict in which the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged.

E2.37.6. Missing. The casualty is not present at his or her duty location due to apparent involuntary reasons and whose location is unknown.

E2.37.7. Missing in Action (MIA). The casualty is a hostile casualty, other than the victim of a terrorist activity, who is not present at his or her duty location due to apparent involuntary reasons and whose location is unknown.

[Again, "Pending" can only be used on Initial or Interim reports.]

Missing Missing is Missing

If you managed to work your way through the various definitions and read the above carefully, many small details probably started to jump out at you. Keep in mind, the whole point of DoDI 1300.18 is it "provides uniform official casualty terms and definitions."

Mission so not accomplished.

One

There is no written definition for one line shown in the Casualty Information Chart a) Type: Hostile b) Status: Missing and c) Category: Terrorist. In theory, this combination should have been included as a category under definition E2.37.8. But, it's not there. Further along, there is a definition for "Terrorism"...but I'm specifically interested in "Terrorist" as used to categorize Missing Status.

E2.52. Terrorism. The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.

Two

There is no line in the Casualty Information Chart for a) Type: Hostile b) Status: Missing and c) Category: Missing although this combination is included in the definition E2.37.6.

Missing-Missing (E2.37.6) is quite literally missing from the Casualty Information Chart. Instructions are very clear - "Only these combinations are authorized." With a little help from Photoshop, the corrected chart with the line inserted is shown below:

Three

If "RET MIL CONTROL" or Returned to Military Control is shown under "4b) Status" on the Casualty Information Chart, why isn't it included in the list at E.11 on page 27 which specifically states that there are "six casualty statuses?" Dare I mention, the acronym for Returned to Military Control is RMC not RET MIL CONTROL under "Definition."

Does the chart over rule the definition? Does the definition overrule the chart? Which instruction is correct? And what kind of impact does all of this have on casualty reporting?

More...

There's also an issue with the Casualty Feeder Card (DA Form 1156) used by Commanders that I referenced in another post just the other day, Iraq, Contractors and The Missing Persons Act. The options for "Status" on DA Form 1156 do not match those in the definitions or in the Casualty Information Chart of DoDI 1300.18. Statuses shown on the DA Form 1156 are: (1) deceased; (2) DUSTWUN (3) VSI (4) SI (5) NSI and (6) Pending. No "Missing." And as there is no "Missing," I'm also wondering why DUSTWUN isn't at least listed as DUST/EA-WUN since the form applies to both military and civilian personnel.

I'd love to drop an email to the Office of the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness to point out the conflicts between chart and definitions. But, they don't have any contact information on their website. So, I'm off to fill out the generic contact form at DefenseLink.

Maybe I should just type up a new Excel Table for the DoD.

Iraq Contractors and The Missing Persons Act

Editor's note: the following is based on information available at the time of writing in 2008 and may not accurately reflect procedures and policies in place in the fall of 2003.

As an American civilian contractor working in support of US Army operations in Iraq, Kirk von Ackermann should have been covered under legislation commonly known as the Missing Persons Act. His family should have received notification that counsel was appointed to represent his interests within 45 days of his disappearance. By Day 100, an unclassified summary report should have been provided to von Ackermann's family. At the one year anniversary, Day 365, they should have received notification of the meeting of a Board of Inquiry. If that board reached no definitive conclusion as to his whereabouts, additional inquiries should have been held which the family would have had the right to attend. The von Ackermann family could have passed concerns to the counsel as well as provide information and/or objections to any recommendations by the Board of Inquiry.

But, that's not what happened....something went awry after the Battalion Commander in Tikrit first reported von Ackermann missing.

This post and the following chart are an attempt to recreate the flow of reports and information in 2003 and 2004.


The Missing Persons Act

The Missing Persons Act was first established in 1942, the same year as the Defense Base Act. At the time, the primary purpose of the legislation was to alleviate financial hardship suffered by the dependents of servicemen reported as missing [ref]. Over the years, The Missing Persons Act has been amended.

§ 1501. System for accounting for missing persons

(1) The Secretary of Defense shall establish within the Office of the Secretary of Defense an office to have responsibility for Department of Defense policy relating to missing persons. Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the responsibilities of the office shall include­­

(A) policy, control, and oversight within the Department of Defense of the entire process for investigation and recovery related to missing persons (including matters related to search, rescue, escape, and evasion); and

(B) coordination for the Department of Defense with other departments and agencies of the United States on all matters concerning missing persons.

In 1996, a new provision was added allowing the Department of Defense to designate a missing person as deceased without proof. In addition, the new changes allow government agencies to withhold information on missing persons without penalty. [ref] The 1996 amendments were controversial with some veterans groups who, unsuccessfully, attempted to have them removed.

Reporting

The status of 'missing,' both hostile and non-hostile, is considered a casualty. The Army Casualty Program publication Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-1 outlines the general steps and time frame for reporting procedures for missing persons.

AR 600-8-1
Chapter 13
Procedures for Casualties Involving Missing Persons (Non-Hostile and Hostile)
May 15, 2007

Casualty Assistance

Casualty Assistance Centers (CACs) noted in the above chart "... accomplish the administrative functions of the casualty operations, mortuary affairs, and line of duty programs, the key subcomponents of the Army Casualty Program. They account for, report, and document all casualties. The Casualty and Memorial Affairs Operations Center (CMAOC), U.S. Army Human Resources Command (AHRC-PEZ), has technical supervision over CACs worldwide. "

A general overview of procedural responsibility of CAC's can be found at the DoD Instruction 1300.18 - "Personnel Casualty Matters, Policies, and Procedures" - which describes the responsibilities of the Casualty Assistance Officer.

6.1.4. Casualty Assistance

6.1.4.1. DUSTWUN, EAWUN, Missing, or Deceased Cases. In all cases involving DUSTWUN, EAWUN, missing, or deceased casualties, the DoD Component concerned shall appoint a casualty assistance officer who will initiate contact with the [primary next of kin] PNOK within 24 hours following initial notification. Within the guidelines established by each DoD Component, the casualty assistance officer may be the notification officer. The casualty assistance officer, to the extent the PNOK desires, shall provide guidance and assistance for such matters as pay, allowances and benefits, veteran benefits, social security benefits, and income tax refunds or exclusions whenever section 692 of title 26, U.S.C. (Reference (r)) applies to the particular case. Assistance to civilian personnel will be coordinated through the designated civilian personnel office or civilian benefits center. The casualty assistance officer shall provide points of contact or information regarding autopsy reports, all known reports of inquiry or investigations, as applicable, and other governmental or non-DoD agencies that may be involved in a particular case. The casualty assistance officer shall maintain contact with the PNOK to keep them informed until all matters relating to the case have been answered and all entitlements and benefits are received.

I admit to being confused here. The commander, who in theory first reported von Ackermann as missing, was in the US Army. The DoD Component within which Iraq falls, Central Command (CENTCOM), reports civilian casualties to a Designated Military Service, in this case, the US Air Force, at HQ Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC/DPFCS) at Randolph AFB in Texas.

E6.2.1.1. Casualty reports will be submitted without delay to the appropriate Military Service Headquarters Casualty Office within 24 hours of a Component learning of the casualty.

The following sample report, "DoD Component Civilian Casualty Report," referred to as "Enclosure 6," is used to input data into the Defense Casualty Information Processing System (DCIPS) which, in theory, maintains data on all casualties including civilian contractors.

From this Casualty Report, DCIPS will generate DD Form 1300, "Report of Casualty."

Commander's Report - DD Form 2812

In order to complete the above steps, an initial report of a missing person, DD Form 2812, is prepared within the first 10 days by the appropriate commander. The commander also completes a short casualty checklist known as a "casualty feeder card" (DA Form 1156).

§ 1502. Missing persons: initial report

(a) Preliminary assessment and recommendation by commander.-- After receiving information that the whereabouts and status of a person described in section 1501(c) of this title is uncertain and that the absence of the person may be involuntary, the commander of the unit, facility, or area to or in which the person is assigned shall make a preliminary assessment of the circumstances. If, as a result of that assessment, the commander concludes that the person is missing, the commander shall­­

(1) recommend that the person be placed in a missing status; and

(2) not later than 10 days after receiving such information, transmit a report containing that recommendation to the Secretary concerned in accordance with procedures prescribed under section 1501(b) of this title.

(b) Transmission of advisory copy to theater component commander.-- When transmitting a report under subsection (a)(2) recommending that a person be placed in a missing status, the commander transmitting that report shall transmit an advisory copy of the report to the theater component commander with jurisdiction over the missing person.

(c) Safeguarding and forwarding of records.-- A commander making a preliminary assessment under subsection (a) with respect to a missing person shall (in accordance with procedures prescribed under section 1501 of this title) safeguard and forward for official use any information relating to the whereabouts and status of the missing person that results from the preliminary assessment or from actions taken to locate the person.

When Safa Shukir called John Dawkins to tell him he had found Kirk von Ackermann's vehicle abandoned on an isolated road, Shukir had reached Dawkins in the contracting office at a US Army base in Tikrit. The battalion commander at the time was LTC Steven Russell who would have relied on Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 2310.5 for guidance.

DODI 2310.5 is applicable to both military and civilian personnel and details steps for filing DD Form 2812, "Commander's Preliminary Assessment and Recommendation Regarding Missing Person" sometimes referred to as a Commander's Report.

To create the report, the commander is likely to initiate an informal investigation known as an AR 15-6 investigation. The commander assigns an investigating officer who compiles a preliminary report, DA Form 1574, "Report of Proceedings by Investigating Officer." DA Form 1574 includes a chronology, witness statements, exhibits with an index indicating what evidence there is and where it is stored.

DODI 2310.05 [2310.5]

Accounting for Missing Persons (PDF) - Boards of Inquiry
COMMANDER'S PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATION
Department of Defense, Army Publishing Directorate
January 31, 2000 with administrative changes March 1, 2008
Page 15 - 23

E3.1. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATION BY COMMANDER

E3.1.1. A flow chart diagramming the elements of the commander's preliminary assessment and recommendation, together with the elements of an initial board of inquiry that would follow that assessment, is found at attachment E3.A1. of this enclosure.



E3.1.2. Information may be received showing that the whereabouts and status of a covered person are uncertain and that the absence of the person may be involuntary. If so, the commander of the unit, facility, or area to or in which the person is assigned shall make a preliminary assessment of the circumstances. When the circumstances of the involuntary absence are questionable, i.e., whether the absence resulted from hostile action, the commander of the unit, facility, or area to or in which the person is assigned shall submit a preliminary assessment and recommendation. Attachment E3.A2. of this enclosure contains a checklist of those items, as applicable, that the commander may wish to consider when preparing the assessment. If, as a result of that assessment, the commander concludes that the person is missing, the commander shall:

E3.1.2.1. Recommend that the person be placed in a missing status; and

E3.1.2.2. Transmit a report containing the recommendation to the Secretary concerned in accordance with procedures prescribed by that Secretary not later than 10 days after receiving such information.

E3.1.3. DD Form 2812, "Commander's Preliminary Assessment and Recommendation Regarding Missing Person," is found at attachment E3.A3. of this enclosure.


E3.1.4. Transmission of a DD Form 2812 is not always required. For instance,
evidence regarding a covered person may be received through news coverage or
discovered through diplomatic channels. That evidence may be sufficient to enable the commander to make a preliminary assessment regarding the covered person's whereabouts and status and whether the absence of the person is involuntary. In all cases, however, the evidence upon which this determination is made shall be recorded and preserved. Receipt of additional evidence could require the commander to submit a preliminary assessment and recommendation. Such evidence could include cessation of hostilities without the return of the covered person or a complete lack of further evidence that, without additional information, could create a doubt concerning the whereabouts and status of the covered person. A preliminary assessment and recommendation is required whenever evidence is received or discovered that may cause the whereabouts and status of the covered person to be uncertain and indicates that the absence of the person may be involuntary.

E3.1.5. Persons who are "covered persons" (defined herein at paragraph E2.1.7.) are limited to those whose involuntary absence arises as a result of a hostile action or under circumstances suggesting that the involuntary absence is a result of a hostile action and whose status is undetermined or who is unaccounted for. A case resolution file will be created and maintained on a covered person and an initial board of inquiry will be convened to inquire into the whereabouts and status of the person. The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy shall determine, with regard to a pending or ongoing military operation, the specific employees, or groups of employees, of contractors of the Department of Defense to be considered to be covered persons. In appropriate circumstances, the USD(P) may expand coverage to non-U.S. citizen civilian officers and employees of the Department of Defense.

E3.1.6. The scope of persons for whom the United States will undertake Personnel Recovery is not limited to situations involving hostile action or circumstances suggestive of hostile action. Personnel Recovery measures may be initiated for personnel (U.S., allied, or coalition) who become unaccounted for as a result of training exercises, operations other than war wherein hostile action is not involved and operational environments not involving hostile action. The specific persons for whom Personnel Recovery may be initiated will vary based upon the circumstances unique to each situation. Located at attachment E3.A4. of this enclosure is a graph depicting the relationship of "covered persons" for whom case resolution files and boards of inquiry apply and those to whom Personnel Recovery applies. For further information on Personnel Recovery, refer to DoD Directive 2310.2, "Personnel Recovery" (reference (d)).

E3.2. TRANSMISSION OF ADVISORY COPY TO THEATER COMPONENT COMMANDER

The Commander of the unit, facility, or area to or in which the person is assigned shall, when recommending that a person be placed in a missing status, transmit an advisory copy of the preliminary assessment and recommendation to the theater Component Commander having jurisdiction over the missing person.

E3.2. TRANSMISSION OF ADVISORY COPY TO THEATER COMPONENT COMMANDER

The Commander of the unit, facility, or area to or in which the person is assigned shall, when recommending that a person be placed in a missing status, transmit an advisory copy of the preliminary assessment and recommendation to the theater Component Commander having jurisdiction over the missing person.

E3.3. SAFEGUARDING AND FORWARDING OF RECORDS

In accordance with procedures prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a Commander
making a preliminary assessment and recommendation with respect to a missing person shall:

E3.3.1. Safeguard and forward, to the Secretary concerned for official use, any
information relating to the whereabouts and status of the missing person that results from the preliminary assessment and recommendation or from actions taken to locate the person.

E3.3.2. Attachment E3.A2. of this enclosure contains a checklist of those items, as
applicable, that the commander may wish to safeguard and forward.

For the most part, E3.A2 relates to recordings, vehicles, weapons and ordinance (think plane crash as a result of missile fire). It does not list personal effects.

Once the Commander's Assessment and Recommendation is filed with The Adjutant General and Theater Component Commander, usually within 10 days of the initial incident, and as authority passes to a Board of Inquiry, jurisdiction over any future investigation becomes unclear. Which may explain why an aggressive and formal investigation into the disappearance of Kirk von Ackermann, once properly accounted for as a missing person, was seemingly forgotten. That is, until his colleague Ryan Manelick was murdered shortly after alleging fraud at Ultra Services.

So, what happened?

Was there a Board of Inquiry? Is Kirk von Ackermann listed in the DCIPS? Was a Casualty Assistance Officer assigned to his case? Did the Missing Persons Act fail to protect the legal rights of Kirk von Ackermann as a missing person and if so, what steps need to be taken to prevent that from ever happening again? At what point did the system break down?

Changes Since 2003

In the summer of 2004, the US Department of State Hostage Working Group was organized by the US Embassy in Baghdad to monitor hostages in Iraq. The Group is sometimes referred to as the Office of Hostage Affairs. According to news reports, the group meets weekly bringing together officials from the FBI, the Defense Department, the State Department and the Iraqi government.

Between January 2006 and January 2007, a Hostage Reporting contract clause was added to Joint Contracting Command (JCC) Acquisition Instructions. The clause is intended for construction and service contracts, and does not address the gray area of service incidental to supply of supply contracts. Contracting officers are now responsible for gathering the very first details of an incident and submitting the information to JCC.
See: Acquisition Instruction (AI), Part 52.2, 01 May 2007

Additional Reading

Army Publishing Directorate - regulations and so much more including a complete list of Department of Defense Issuances (DODI)

DoD Instruction 1300.18 - Personnel Casualty Matters, Policies, and Procedures from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness from January 8, 2008

DoD Directive 1300.22 - from the Joint Mortuary Affairs Office, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, on Personal Effects from February 3, 2000 current as of November 21, 2003

Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) responsibility for Personnel Recovery after the conclusion of hostilities
Try this link: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/faq/

Military Assistance Program includes information from Mortuary and Casualty Affairs

General Information

Casualty: There are six casualty statuses: (1) deceased; (2) duty status – whereabouts unknown (DUSTWUN) for military, or excused absence – whereabouts unknown (EAWUN) for civilians; (3) missing; (4) very seriously ill or injured (VSI); (5) seriously ill or injured (SI); and (6) not seriously ill or injured (NSI). At the DoD Component’s discretion, an additional casualty status of Special Patient (SPECPAT) or Special Category (SPECAT) may be used. POW is not a casualty status for reporting purposes, rather status and category are "missing-captured."

Civilian: A person who is not a member of the armed forces, including a member of the general public, U.S. and non-U.S., a defense contractor, a DoD civilian employee, non-DoD Federal employees, or military dependents.

Contractor: An individual or employee of a private business who contracts to furnish supplies [supply] or perform work [construction or service] at a certain price or rate.

Defense Casualty Information Processing System (DCIPS): The system of record for the "Report of Casualty" DD Form 1300 and other documents and reports. The DCIPS Configuration Control Board (CCB) governs changes within this system. DCIPS is an electronic system used in the collection and management of casualty data and produces the DD Form 1300 and other documents and reports.

Remains of Two Missing Soldiers Identified

According to a news report from the Associated Press, on Wednesday July 9, 2008, the remains of two US soldiers kidnapped in Iraq in 2007 were located and identified.

Spc. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Michigan

Sincere condolences to their friends and family.

The following is an Associated Press report posted at YouTube.



Additional background on the two men from a prior post.

Pfc. Byron W. Fouty of Waterford, Michigan missing since May 12, 2007

19-year-old Private First Class in the US Army when he was ambushed and abducted with two other soldiers, one of whom was later found killed. Searchers found the men's ID cards in June. Fouty was with the the 10th Mountain Division of Fort Drum, NY.

Missing soldiers' family unite in shared grief
By Anna Badkhen, Boston Globe, July 22, 2007

Still missing: Walled Lake GI kidnapped in Iraq a year ago
By Catherine Jun, The Detroit News, May 12, 2008

Sgt. Alex Ramon Jimenez of Lawrence, Massachusetts missing since May 12, 2007

25-year-old Specialist in the US Army when he was ambushed and abducted with two other soldiers, one of whom was later found killed. Searchers found the men's ID cards in June. Jimenez was with the the 10th Mountain Division of Fort Drum, NY.

Missing soldiers' family unite in shared grief
By Anna Badkhen, Boston Globe, July 22, 2007

Missing in Iraq: Jimenez - lists articles to date
The Eagle Tribune

Photos were found publicly displayed on the web and are intended as "fair use" under Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. Please email me if you'd like a photo removed, changed, or added.

Previous posts

Americans Missing in Iraq - June 2008 (photos)
June 1, 2008

Americans Missing in Iraq (photos)
March 31, 2008

Click on the label "Missing" to view other related posts

Map of Camp Anaconda

Well, no actually, there isn't a map of Camp Anaconda. And I thought the military loved maps. Another myth shattered.

I filed an FOIA for a map of Camp Anaconda (also known as Balad Air Base, LSA Anaconda) from the time period of September - December 2003. I wasn't looking for anything fancy, just some basic info, nothing hush hush. According to CENTCOM, such a thing doesn't exist.

Despite our extensive and careful search for documents pertaining to your request, we were unable to locate responsive documents.

I was pretty certain CENTCOM were the go-to guys. Maybe I directed my request to the wrong agency and I should have written to the Defense Supply Center or the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

So now I'm not sure what to think. I was hoping to use the map in another article I'm working on.

Addendum: to the left is the actual FOIA letter with some identifying information blacked out specifically, officer's name, FOIA #, and contact phone number.



2nd Addendum: I thought this article might be of interest.

Terrain Team Ensures Roads are Mapped Out
By Sgt. Alexandra Hemmerly-Brown, Defend America, April 12, 2007

LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, Iraq — Most offices have them, but trailer six in the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)’s compound here, holds a very large one.

Operating out of a small trailer is a four-member contingent of the 70th Engineer Company, (currently attached to the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) ), who have the responsibility of making maps by request of the ever-changing roads of Iraq. And of course, they have a very large plotter printer for printing out their custom-made maps.

“All of our maps are mission-dictated,” said Sgt. Byram D. Faulk of Washington, D.C., the terrain team noncommissioned officer-in-charge.

The team creates maps requested by units who need the maps for specific reasons. They may need a map outlining bodies of water, or other terrain features, or they may just need a more current map then they already have, Faulk said.

More...

But nope, no map of Camp Anaconda from the fall of 2003.

Photo of LSA Anaconda by James Gordon, taken on July 26, 2005

Technical

I'm feeling the need to cover some technical territory. It'll make for some dry reading I'm afraid but it's much needed background.

So... I'm preparing some future posts on Chain of Custody for Evidence and Property; overview of a relatively new Hostage Reporting contract clause requirement (ref); as well as a look at disposition of Personal Effects in Theater of Operations (ref); and a quick look at the Missing Persons Act (ref).

There's just no other polite way to say this: decades of standard operating procedures went right out the window in 2003. It's almost as if the Pentagon had never fought a war before. That won't be clear without introducing the background material.

PS Bonus offer...a peek at the role of the Coalition Provisional Authority in local law enforcement.

The Missing Notebook

Kirk von Ackermann liked to take notes. Lots and lots of notes.

He liked to record his thoughts, using his own personal form of a cryptic short hand, described as an "idiosyncratic writing system," that in part used multiple languages. (If memory serves, Kirk von Ackermann spoke 6 languages.) Most often, he relied on a mixture of Russian and English. And he kept up his habit of taking notes while he worked for Ultra Services.

Kirk always had something with him to write on - always. His notes are almost impossible to read since he had very small handwriting, regularly used multiple languages, personal acronyms, abbreviations etc., and almost always wrote very quickly as he tried to keep up with his own ideas. - Megan von Ackermann

What happened to Kirk von Ackermann's notebook?

Habit dictates Kirk von Ackermann had a notebook with him in the car on the day he disappeared. Unfortunately, no one seems to really know what happened to most of his personal effects among which, was a soccer jersey from an Iraqi national team player meant as a gift for his son. What might his notebook say about the days immediately preceding his disappearance?

He used his notebook to write down ideas, notes about people he met, suggestions, inspirations... that sort of thing. So he would probably write down observations about the people he was meeting (the military officers he was dealing with, anyone else he found helpful or who might be interested in a product or service), notes he had on how the processes were working (deliveries, contract negotiations, employee relations etc) or ideas for a new way to use an existing product or a new need he had noticed.

Left, sample of Kirk von Ackermann's notes taken around the year 2000, recorded in a Dayrunner. Coin is for size comparison.

Maybe Kirk von Ackermann's notebook is even now sitting in the glove box of his vehicle in an impound lot. Maybe not.

Shortly before his murder, Ryan Manelick alleged fraud within the company and that it involved US Army officers. Von Ackermann had an acute sense of observation. It seems highly unlikely he would have missed something like fraud and kickbacks....

If Kirk knew about the fraud allegation he certainly might have made notes about what he was seeing. Even if he didn't, his habit of writing notes the way he did might have made someone else think he was jotting things down about it.

Where is that notebook today?

That's the bingo question.

Irex Ltd.

What follows is a general overview of Irex Ltd, a company that no matter how hard one tries to avoid it, just seems to cast a shadow over the events of 2003.

And yet, Irex Ltd was a legal entity only and never fulfilled any contracts in Iraq.

Irex Ltd is not Irex Corp

Ryan Manelick was gunned down on December 14, 2003 shortly after leaving a meeting at Camp Anaconda in Iraq. His obituary in Pennsylvania newspapers listed his employers as Ultra Services and Irex Ltd – mistakenly identified as Irex Corp in his obituary.

This misidentification of Irex Ltd has caused some confusion. Irex Ltd had no relationship to a company of similar name, Irex Corp of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, formerly a subsidiary of Armstrong, which earned some notoriety for its involvement in asbestos suits.

The company history starts in 2003 more or less coinciding with the split of another logistics supplier, Stratex Freedom Services, in to two entities: one American, one Uzbeki as shown in the middle of the graphic provided.


History of Irex Ltd

The story of Irex Ltd begins with the founding of another company, Ultra Services, in early 2003 to fulfill logistics contracts for the US Army in Iraq.

Through a $50,000 investment from a company working in Central Asia, Stratex Freedom Services LLC, a Turkish businessman, Mete Mutluoglu, agreed to change the name of his then inactive Turkish company, Microserve to Ultra Services. Through this arrangement, Mutluoglu would own 50% and Stratex Freedom Services LLC would own the other 50% of the new company Ultra Services. For putting the company together, an American businessman, John Dawkins, would own 25% of Ultra Services through his own share in Stratex by additionally providing “sweat equity” in Iraq.(1) Mete Mutluoglu brought in two Turkish employee managers to Ultra Services, Bora Tuncay and Egemen Çakmak.

Stratex' Chief Finanical Officer, Geoff Nordloh, traveled to Turkey to help in setting up the new company, subsequently returning to Central Asia. Norldoh was never an officer or employee of Ultra Services. John Dawkins handled sales and installation in Iraq while the managers oversaw production in Turkey.

By summer, Nordloh had heard from former Stanford Business School classmate, Albert “Charles” Phillips who read about Nordloh in Stanford’s Alumni notes. Phillips was interested in Nordloh’s work in Central Asia. While Stratex had no immediate need of Phillips in Central Asia, Dawkins was pressing his Stratex partners for more help in Iraq. After several phone calls, Phillips arrived mid-summer to work for Ultra Services out of their Istanbul office.(2) Also joining the company was Ryan Manelick, the son of a close personal friend of Dawkins. Initially intending to work out of the Istanbul office, Manelick was shifted to Iraq as he spoke some Arabic. Manelick oversaw site installation.

While in Turkey, Phillips was in contact with a former colleague from Siebel Systems of San Mateo, California, Kirk von Ackermann, a former Air Force officer who had served in Kosovo. Von Ackermann traveled to Iraq and joined Ultra Services in August of 2003.

By the Fall of 2003, relations within Ultra Services had begun to sour.

Several Ultra Services’ employees, unhappy with John Dawkins —- who had more or less pushed his Turkish partner Mutluoglu aside -- sought to create a new company, Irex Ltd. The employees sought to partner with Stratex Freedom Services LLC, later renamed TFI International LLC after the company severed ties with its former Uzbek partners.

Corporate Structure

Irex Ltd principals were originally intended to be:

Albert Charles Phillips – Chief Executive Officer
Geoff Nordloh – Chief Financial Officer
Egeman Cakmak
Bora Tuncay
Kirk von Ackermann

In addition, Charles Phillips suggested bringing in a third Stanford Business School colleague, Michael Finkelstein. Finkelstein would look into financing but never formally joined the company.

Irex Ltd had already developed its first product, a Demountable Guard Unit, designed by Kirk von Ackermann and his wife, Megan. Investors and manufacturers were showing considerable interest. Potential buyers were lining up in no small part due to von Ackermann's prior experience in the military. The product was already showing potential outside of Iraq.

The company website, www.irex-services.com, was registered on October 2, 2003. Cached pages from the original Irex Ltd website, now the site of an Internet services company, can be viewed at the Internet Archive.

In an email to Nordloh, on October 8, 2003 (2) , Phillips sketched out in considerable detail the corporate structure of what would eventually be Irex Ltd. He noted that Mete Mutluoglu was “under the impression that he is Stratex’ exclusive partner in Turkey”, and that this would need to be resolved. Even though he was essentially John Dawkins' business partner in Ultra Services, Mutluoglu's agreement was actually signed with Stratex. It was anticipated some sort of financial arrangement with Mutluoglu would need to be worked out.

The next day, on October 9, 2003, Kirk von Ackermann disappeared while traveling on business in Iraq.

Irex Ltd was incorporated in Bermuda on October 22, 2003. The company would exist as a legal entity only and would never fulfill any contracts.

By mid-November, Ryan Manelick had decided to join Irex Ltd as the company's representative in Iraq, writing an email to his father on November 16, 2003 that he and Charles Phillips had split from Dawkins. (3)

On December 14, 2003, Ryan Manelick was killed shortly after leaving a meeting at Camp Anaconda. Charles Phillips, Bora Tuncay and Egemen Cakmak continued to try to get Irex Ltd off the ground.

By February of 2004, Phillips returned to the United States for good.

By March, Irex Ltd and Ultra Services both ceased to exist.

Most of the information that follows originated from what still remains of the original website at the Internet Archive.

Contact Information

From the Irex Ltd website:

Acıbadem cad. Bayir sok. Neyyire hanim apt. No:4 D:2 Uskudar
Istanbul / TURKEY
Tel: +90 (216) 545 4610
Fax: +90 (216) 545 4602
E-mail: info@irex-services.com

Clarendon House (registered agent for Irex Ltd)
2 Church Street
Hamilton HM11
BERMUDA
E-mail: bermudainfo@irex-services.com

Corporate Mission

From the Irex Ltd website:

Irex Services is dedicated to supporting the execution of United States policy and maintaining the safety and well-being of United States citizens and personnel throughout the globe. We are committed to the highest levels of safety, product design, and operational effectiveness. Each of our employees represents our outstanding standards of customer service and corporate integrity in each and every interaction with one of our customers.

About Irex Ltd

From the Irex Ltd website:

Irex Services, Ltd. was founded and incorporated in 2003 to provide a base of operations to serve the construction needs of the United States government in Southern Turkey and Northern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi freedom. Irex' formation is a direct response to the previous absence of regionally owned, American-staffed companies providing services in the rebuilding of Iraq after the recent war. Irex contracts directly with the United States government for goods and services in the construction arena. Irex is also available to sub-contract to foreign firms looking to tap local vendors for projects. Irex is committed to providing the highest level of service at the most effective price.

Irex' diverse management team is specifically designed to effectively provide logistical and supply support to the United States Armed Services. Irex' American management component provides a familiar point of contact to U.S. personnel, providing a level of comfort unusual in companies which are managed solely by local talent in areas of deployment. Irex' Turkish management component is able to source and sub-contract with vendors who can fill the materials and labor needs of Irex' contracts, utilizing decades of expertise in Turkey and the rest of Europe and Asia . The combination of these components allows Irex to design, manufacture, and deliver goods and services throughout the Eastern Hemisphere . Since its formation, the company has successfully won and executed contracts to provide good and services in Baghdad and throughout Northern Iraq totaling more than $10 million. Irex Services, Ltd. is a Bermuda corporation corporate headquarters in Hamilton , Bermuda and operational offices in Istanbul, Turkey.

Company Catalogue

The website originally included information about products available through Irex Ltd. such as:

Armored Protection – Steel Umbrella for Containerized Units

Containerized Office Units

Mobile Armored Guard Units This product was designed by Kirk von Ackermann and his wife Megan. More information on the Guard Unit including pictures can be found here: The Demountable Guard Shack

General Information of Irex Ltd Principals

Albert Charles Phillips - Chief Executive Officer
(Information from the Irex Ltd website)

Charles Phillips has been a sales, marketing and operations executive at a mix of new ventures and established firms in the arenas of software, telecommunications, and professional services. His most significant recent experience is at Siebel Systems where he managed the company's $10 million relationship with its largest channel partner (Microsoft). He also worked in Global Sales Operations where he architected Siebel's Global/Strategic Accounts program, and served as an Engineering Operations manager, supervising 1000+ engineers in the release of the latest version of Siebel's suite of Customer Relationship Management software (v. 7.5). Prior to Siebel, Charles was director of Business Development for Certive Corporation, a small business application services provider. At Certive, Charles was solely responsible for the relationship and strategic initiatives with the company's largest channel partner and chief investor, Office Depot. Charles also spent two years as a consultant for the Boston Consulting Group, covering healthcare and the pulp and paper industry.

Charles Phillips has an AB in Government from Harvard University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Geoff Nordloh - Chief Financial Officer
(Information provided by Geoff Nordloh - also see About Geoff Nordloh)

Geoff Nordloh received his bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) from Princeton University in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He received a full fellowship to study Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University and completed his master’s degree there in 1993 followed by an MBA from its Graduate School of Business in June 1999.

From 1993 to 1997 he served as an officer in the United States Air Force, responsible for the launch, deployment, and operations of several communications satellite programs. Nordloh co-founded Mesopotamia Group LLC and now serves as the company’s CFO traveling between the United States and Afghanistan.

Bora Tuncay – partner

Bora Tuncay with Egeman Çakmak and Kirk von Ackermann, was to hold a 20% interest in the company, vested after 2 years. (4)

Egemen Çakmak – partner

Egeman Çakmak with Bora Tuncay and Kirk von Ackermann, was to hold a 20% interest in the company, vested after 2 years. (5)

Kirk von Ackermann - partner

A former Air Force Captain, Kirk von Ackermann, with Bora Tuncay and Egeman Çakmak, was to hold a 20% interest in the company, vested after 2 years. (6) Von Ackermann had previously served with distinction as a Russian linguist for the US Army then as an officer with the US Air Force where he was decorated for work for NATO operations in Bosnia behind enemy lines, eventually working with with an elite joint force command counter-terrorism unit that regularly briefed the White House. After leaving the military, he went to work as a manager at Siebel Systems in San Mateo, CA.

Extensive biographical information on von Ackermann can be found at the weblog, Missing in Iraq by Megan von Ackermann, see March - August 2006

Footnotes

(1) Information provided by Geoff Nordloh for the article
One Missing, One Dead: An Iraq Contractor in the Fog of War
By Susie Dow with Steven Reich, ePluribus Media, May 15, 2006
(2) Ibid
(3) Death of a Contractor: Greed and Murder in Iraq's Lawless Desert
By Dan Halpern, Rolling Stone, March 8, 2007, Issue 1021
pp 70-74, 76-69 (print version includes photos)
(4) Email from Charles Phillips to Geoff Nordloh sent October 8, 2003 10:23 AM Subject: Corporate Structure (A copy of the full text of this email is available to read here: Irex Ltd. - Corporate Structure)
(5) Ibid
(6) Ibid