Scott Helvenston: Murdered Civilian Contractor Five Years Later

Five years ago today Scott Helvenston and three other Blackwater civilian contractors were brutally murdered and put on display for the pleasure of our enemies in Fallujah, Iraq. Jerry Zovko, Mike Teague, Wesley Batalona were also killed in the attack that grabbed national attention and was used successful as a propaganda tool by our enemies to turn public opinion against the war in Iraq. Read about it below and see photos and a video.

Scott Helvenston

Scott Helvenston was a minor celebrity of sorts. His good looks, muscular body and physical fitness had gotten him on a reality show as the ‘alpha male’ attempting to teach fashion models how to survive in the wilderness on a show called ‘Combat Missions’. He did hollywood stunt work, consulted on movies such as ‘GI Jane’ and ‘Face/Off’. He was the only man to ever beat the beast on the show ‘Man vs Beast’. He developed SEAL fitness equipment and videotapes. More importantly, Helvenston was an American Navy Seal. After he left the Navy Seals in 1992 and gave up his work with hollywood, he went to war as a civilian contractor with the private security firm Blackwater.

The mothers of Helvenston, Kathryn Helvenston-Wettengel, and Zovko are talking about the fifth anniversary of the ambush that cost their sons lives. They talk about the losses of their sons and the lawsuits that are still pending against Blackwater.

On March 31, 2004, Halvenston, Jerry Zovko, Mike Teague and Wesley Batalona set out on a mission to escort a bus load of supplies and food to Fallujah from Baghdad. It was in Halvenston’s first month in Iraq. The three car convoy was ambushed by Islamic terrorists and the four men were killed, sacrificing their own lives for the lives of those they were sent there to protect.

There was a battle, but the Blackwater men were vastly outnumbered and did not have the armor or weapons to defeat their attackers. The security detail engaged in the battle while the other vehicles in the convoy escaped. The vehicle that carried Helvenston, Zovko, Batalona and Teaque was set afire and the four American heroes were killed in the fire. After their deaths, their charred remains were attacked, mutilated, decapitated, dragged through the streets and hung from a bridge by a crazed crowd of insurgents. Of course, it was all filmed and used for propaganda.

The unforgeable horrific images were broadcast around the world. The photos and films showed cheering Iraqis and terrorists cheering, celebrating and abusing the bodies as these the remains of these heroic American men were dragged through the streets and strung up to hang from a bridge over the Euphrates River. It was a sight no one who saw it could ever forget. It was unforgivable. In a ‘normal’ age, it would have inspired the unrelenting ire of a nation and would have meant the end to that war in very short order as the United States took revenge for the deaths and desecration of not only American citizens, but American men at war. But these aren’t ‘normal’ times in our country.

Scott Helvenston was 38 years old when he died. He had made him home in Oceanside, California as did his former wife. He was divorced from his wife Tricia Helvenston, who he had married in 1988. They had two children, Kyle Helvenston and Kelsey Helvenston.

Shortly after his death, his former wife, Patricia Irby, had said of him:

“I want everyone to know he died a hero, and what he was doing was very heroic and courageous. He was a wonderful father and a wonderful person. He will be missed by many.” His younger brother Jason, 32, who was only 1 when their father died, said about Scott, “He was a hero all his life. He was my hero all my life. And he was probably the best father I have ever known.”

Here is an exhaustive Scott Helvenston biography and information here. Pictures and video are below.

As I read the story of Scott Helvenston, Jerry Zovko, Mike Teague and Wesley Batalona, I can’t help but think of the 15 months that my own son spent in Baghdad, Iraq. Many times he served as part of security details, escorting dignitaries and supplies to and from various locations in that dreadful country. Many mother’s sons have done that.

We can’t help but think … but for the Grace of God ……