Green Beret Electrocuted  − 2 June, 2008

This story bothers me immensely. A decorated Green Beret, serving in the Iraq theatre goes to take a shower and is electrocuted. He likely died a slow, painful death – it wasn’t until other soldiers heard the commotion and smelled burning hair that they busted down the door to rescue them – one of them also getting a serious jolt in doing so. All because the system was not grounded properly… according to a report submitted 11 MONTHS PRIOR by inspectors. Again, I am sure due to hiring the cheapest company to do the work out there.

Ryan Maseth, the afore-mentioned Green Beret was also not the first soldier electrocuted overseas due to grievous errors in properly grounded wiring. There were at least 12 others before him, which even prompted the army to note in a release that it was concerned over the deaths and even forced the contractor to rectify the situation.

This is absolutely unforgivable. These men are all integral members of our society, not to mention often highly-trained, and are not expendable due to the idiocy of the cheapest contractor hired.

The military did not comment on the Maseth incident, citing the pending litigation. His family is suing and I think they have every right to – the cheapest contractor better pay up for their crappy work which resulted in the death (or deaths) of our military serviceman/men.

Ridiculous. And especially as these men are giving their lives to serve our country – it’s one thing to die engaging the enemy – it’s another to die because of an idiot. For shame!

So there’s my rant for the day. I am tired of the corner-cutting costing lives.