The most dangerous civilian job in Iraq

Translators crucial link between Iraqis, military
Titan’s toll — which includes both violent deaths and accidents — is far higher than any of the hundreds of civilian contracting firms in Iraq, including those with many more workers.

For example, Halliburton, the Houston-based contractor with 50,000 employees spread between Iraq and Kuwait, has had more than 60 employees and subcontractors killed in the war zone, more than 250 wounded and one worker unaccounted for, spokeswoman Jennifer Dellinger said.

Many deaths don’t show up in the Labor Department statistics under the name Halliburton because often claims are filed under subcontractor names. The 305 death claims with the Labor Department represent only part of the toll for American and other civilian contractors in Iraq. The true figure is difficult to estimate because many firms don’t publicize workers’ slayings. The U.S. troop death toll is over 1,620.

In Iraq, translators are seen as a critical link between U.S. troops and Iraqis.

“They were important to our mission, and terrorists were trying to hurt us by hurting them,” said Army Capt. Joseph Ludvigson, who was based last year in northern Iraq.

'Like family to us'
On Baghdad’s hostile western outskirts, the Army has conducted memorial ceremonies for slain Titan interpreters, said 1st Cavalry Division Maj. Derik Von Recum.

The first, an Iraqi woman, was killed in July, “shot execution-style at her home in front of her family,” Von Recum said. The second, an Iraqi man, stopped coming to work in November. It took a few days to figure out insurgents had kidnapped and killed him, Von Recum said.

“The two we lost were like family to us,” he said. “I wish we could have provided them with better protection.”

But some Iraqis working for Titan said they spent months on the job before being issued helmets, body armor, and ear- and eye-protection given to U.S. troops and foreign contractors.

Titan’s Williams said Iraqi workers now get the same Kevlar helmets and vests issued to U.S. troops. “Following some initial equipment shortages, our Iraqi personnel now have the equipment they need where and when they need it,” he told The Associated Press.

Caught in the crossfire
One Titan interpreter said he completed more than 100 missions without body armor and a helmet. The man spoke on condition his name wasn’t used because he didn’t want to lose his job.

This reporter, who spent more than a year in Iraq, accompanied Iraqi interpreters who wore no body armor or helmets on many U.S. military missions.

“You look around and see the soldiers and the international press with you, and they’re all wearing the proper protection. What about me? I’m one of the team,” said the Titan interpreter, who emerged uninjured from two convoys blasted by roadside bombs.

The interpreter said he asked his U.S. Army commander why the troops and the American civilians — some also in Titan’s employ — had body armor and helmets, but not the Iraqis.

“After a while they decided it was wrong. They gave it to us,” he said.

A Titan translator with no military background said U.S. troops allow him to carry an AK-47, after having taught him to shoot it. The 31-year-old Iraqi said he opened fire on insurgents when his convoy came under attack near Baghdad in March 2004. He was slightly wounded.

“I saw an American soldier killed right in front of me,” said the translator, who didn’t want his name used because he feared for his life. “The insurgents were shooting at us from the rooftops. I was trying to shoot them too. The soldiers yelled at me: ’Hey, don’t try to be a hero. Get down!”’

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