Contractor Electrocuted in Shower in Iraq

(AP)  A State Department contractor apparently has been electrocuted while showering in Baghdad even as U.S. authorities in Iraq try to remedy 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, while others have been electrocuted under other circumstances such as while operating a power washer. Inspections and repairs are under way at 90,000 U.S.-maintained structures 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."

In July, the Defense Department's inspector general said that of the 18 electrocution deaths of U.S. soldiers and contractors in Iraq, eight involved possible equipment faults or malfunctioning that caused or contributed to the electrocutions. The accidental touching of live wires was blamed in about half the deaths.

[fuzzyi]

I am "SHOCKED" by all these silly comments.

[White_Duck]

Talk about Karma! It is sad this man lost his life. But not too terribly long ago a soldier was killed in the exact same way. Did the US Gov't OR the Contractor take the blame? NO! Who is cutting corners here? The US Military has some of the highest regulations as to the quality of goods it buys from the private sector. (Witness the infamous hammer & toilet seat!)Someone needs to answer for this previously known form of murder! Yes, MURDER!

[babooph]

I think I see why the locals look like they never had a shower.

[babooph]

Can we have congress shower in the same place ,when they make their inspections??

[lilu_rose04]

I can't believe how ignorant and heartless some people are. i am a close family member of Adam's & i am greatly offended by that comment. the incinuation that Adam is worthless because he was there on contract is evil. maybe you should read the whole article. Adam served 4 tours in Iraq in the U.S. Airforce & he is the hero of our family!!! He is & will always be loved by everyone who knew him- we are so proud of him. lets forget for just a moment that he fought for your freedom to make such horrid comments, & atleast have some respect for his family who is deeply grieving. lets not add insult to misery. Adam held doors for women, he would have given the shirt off his back to a person in need, & he knew how to make everyone smile. he was big on respect- a trait which you obviously lack. You don't have to agree with the war to respect the people who die to fight it!

[brianbwb-2009]

You are right, let's forget that he fought for our freedom, because he didn't. He was simply a free mercenary for multinational interests.

Iraq never threatened our "freedom", and consequently there was no defense of said "freedom".

I am pretty sure that for the Iraqi families who lost loved ones to US bombs and bullets, even though they never attacked our so-called "freedoms", they probably regard your calling the killer of their loved ones a "hero", as a similar evil as you see. Respect works both ways, where is yours for those Iraqis who died actually defending their neighborhoods from a hostile invader?

As for your loss, it is always sad when unnecessary life is taken, but because that life was related to you does not mean that that life was actually engaged in any positive action vis-a-vis Iraq.

The truth may bruise feelings, but it is necessary to understand that the US military is not fighting to defend our freedoms, but is being used as a mercenary force for a land/resources grab, and those profiting from it couldn't care less about your "hero".

You will be enlightened on this point when you try to claim the benefits that you are entitled to from "Triple Canopy".

[thomderr1]

Other than the sad loss of life is the fact that most of these structures were built under United States contracts.
Where was the oversight?