| Big Red One Soldier aids Turkish workers
 September 1, 2004
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Pfc. Sefer Aydin performs force protection duty at Forward Operating Base Speicher in Iraq. Aydin, a Turkish citizen, provides valuable translation services to Turkish KBR workers.
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When Pfc. Sefer Aydin deployed to Iraq with Alpha Company, 701st Main Support Battalion, he expected to be operating a forklift or issuing supplies from a warehouse. Instead, because of his fluency in Turkish, he has played a key role in construction, quality of life improvements and even life saving on Forward Operating Base Speicher.
Turkish sub-contractors working for Kellogg, Brown and Root were at an impasse on the completion of the main Morale, Welfare and Recreation facility and gymnasium until they turned to Aydin. The private became a critical link between the Turkish-owned Artek Construction Company and KBR contractors as the Turkish builders struggled with recurring problems.
Aydin’s greatest contribution, though, was his actions on behalf of a Turkish truck driver who was seriously injured by direct enemy fire while transporting supplies to the Army from Mosul. When the worker was sent to the 67th Combat Support Hospital, Aydin accompanied him. He interceded when the medical providers started to treat him with insulin when he was already suffering from critically high sugar levels, almost certainly saving his life.
His translating skills also allowed for the successful medical evacuation of another Turkish worker by coordinating with KBR managers and with medical facilities in Turkey.
“It was difficult for me at my level of rank to gain the respect of the Turkish medical authorities,” Aydin said. “It took 52 hours of negotiations to get the worker medically evacuated out of Iraq.”
In several other cases, Aydin’s translation ensured that the injured workers were not given medications that would have provoked allergic reactions. |
