Memoirs of A Contractor in A War Zone: Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Theater of Operations

By Eloy Ortega

Going to a foreign land and entering a war zone as a civilian and not as a soldier can take its toll on an individual or have its good and bad times, which will leave one scarred for the remainder of his/her life. Growing up an orphan can have its consequences on how one will look at life in any situation. The decisions one makes are of their own choosing such as sacrificing leaving everything behind including one's own family and a newborn baby in order to give one's family everything they deserve for a better life. Come and take a journey of a homeless orphan, growing up and rising to the top of his profession in a war zone as a civilian defense contractor, working for KBR, and running one the best, if not the largest, water operations in Iraq.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9798887933955

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Memoirs of A Contractor in A War Zone

Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Theater of Operations

Eloy Ortega

Copyright © 2024 Eloy Ortega

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2024

ISBN 979-8-88793-386-3 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88793-395-5 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

2003: Arrival in Kuwait

2004: The Start-Up

2005: Transfer of Authority (TOA)

2006: Mortar Attack

2007: Functional Area Managers (FAM) Conference

2008: Two Billion Gallons Produced

2009: Defense of Freedom Medal

2010: Coming Home

2011: Coming Home to Stay

About the Author

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Mr. Philip Sanchez, who I looked up to and became my mentor and for allowing me the opportunity to work and learn at his side. Mr. Sanchez was something like a guardian angel to me. He was always there when I needed him to bail me out of any situation I would be in. Despite knowing my background, he never gave up on me, and for that I am forever grateful to him. Through Mr. Sanchez' mentoring, I went on to become successful in life, accomplishing more than anyone could have expected, from someone growing up in poverty and from the barrio. Thank you, Phillip Sanchez.

2003: Arrival in Kuwait

Arrival in Kuwait

July 28, 2003

I reported to Greenspoint Mall in Houston, Texas, along with hundreds of civilians, applying and in processing to catered meals to high-end Greenspoint Plaza Hotel. I was employed by Halliburton, which later became KBR (Kellogg, Brown, & Root), under SEII Service Employees International Inc.

August 2, 2003

38th birthday

I departed Houston with a layover in the Netherlands, en route to Kuwait. I was already missing my newborn daughters and son, and I was wondering if my wife was going to be all right with me being gone and no relatives around.

August 3, 2003

I arrived in Kuwait at Aerial Port of Debarkation (APOD) with layover in Kuwait City en route to Iraq. While I was on standby at the hotel in Kuwait City waiting for my orders to go into Iraq, I was offered an alternative to go and work at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, on a mobile ice trailer and get it ready for Iraq. After a day in the hotel, I had to do something because doing nothing all day made me think about and miss my family immensely, as I had never been away from them for more than two weeks at a time.

With brief stay at Fintas Towers, Khalifa Resort, and Safir Resort, some personnel had an option to go and work at Camp Arifjan until it was made clear to move up north to Iraq.

August 9, 2003

I went to work at Camp Arifjan with the water and ice project because it was very stressful just waiting around the hotel to move up north to Iraq. While working at Camp Arifjan, I was part of a team working on a prototype mobile ice machine, which was mounted on a trailer. Our mission was to get it ready to move it to Iraq, as they were going to need a lot of ice for the troops.

August 10, 2003

Departing Kuwait to Iraq, I was issued a bulletproof vest with no plates due to supply shortages. I remember asking for a second bulletproof vest without the steel plates so that I could make myself believe if I got shot the vest would help me. I continue to ask myself what I was doing there if I loved my family with all my heart, and then another thought came in my head. I remembered why I was there, so then I prayed to God to guide the way for me and everybody along with all civilians and military going to Iraq. One significant sign caught my attention; the most little did I know the importance of it will be significant later as the story goes on. We proceeded to load our Chevrolet dually truck with plenty of cases of water and MREs to survive. We were told to take whatever we wanted to take, because if we wouldn't take it with us, we wouldn't have it. After going to the market in Kuwait City, we purchased enough snacks, chips, and my favorite soft drink. I got enough Dr. Pepper to last for several months.

Crossing the border into Iraq from Kuwait, this is what we saw: fences of barbwire, reinforced by two more fences.

Convoys as far as you can see lined up the highways both ways. There was air support for the convoys, but unfortunately, they could not see the buried IEDs.

As we were arriving at Al Diwaniyah after crossing a water canal, we observed water buffalos in the water.

August 11, 2003

After arriving in Camp Cedar, we got to visit a little bit of history: the site of biblical Abraham's temple aka Mesopotamia. There I met some coalition forces from Italy and Japan.

With Italian and Philippine Armed Forces at Camp Cedar

August 12, 2003

Upon arriving at Scania, Iraq, I met some more coalition forces from Japan.

August 13, 2003

When I then arrived at LSA Anaconda (Logistical Support Area) Balad, Iraq, I met up with my old Army Reserve unit, the 288th Quartermaster Company from Victoria, Texas. The 288th Quartermaster Company ran the first water point in LSA Anaconda in 2003.

I met up with SFC Garcia and SSG Leal and the rest of my old unit. It sure was a good feeling because I knew they would have my back and wouldn't let anything happen to me or my fellow coworkers.

August 14, 2003

I finally arrived at Camp Al Asad to set up mobile ice plant operations in order to begin distributing ice. Upon arrival, we had to locate an area where we were going to set up our tent to live. After locating an area, we began to set up our living quarters, our tent. We were exhausted after driving four days and sleeping in our vehicles eating MREs with no porta-johns. We had taken water bottle baths for those four days; it felt good to have finally arrived.

Met PFC—featured on the cover of MAXIM magazine.

With the local vendors at Al Asad stadium

USO Drew Carey Show and Blake Clark, comedians at AL Asad Air Base, Iraq

Drew Carey performs for the troops, while I take a picture with Blake Clark.