A U.S. military nurse who cared for Saddam Hussein in jail threw light on the softer side of the person deemed responsible for taking the lives of hundreds of people. The nurse said Hussein actually saved bread crusts to feed birds and was a very cooperative person.

Master Sgt. Robert Ellis cared for the disgraced leader from January 2004 until August 2005 at Camp Cropper. Ellis said Hussein also watered weeds in a jail garden and drank coffee while smoking cigars to keep his blood pressure down.

Hussein told Ellis that cigars and coffee kept his blood pressure down, and it seemed to work. He even insisted that Ellis smoke with him.

According to BBC reports, Ellis said he was ordered to do whatever was needed to keep Hussein alive.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch quotes Ellis as saying, "That was my job: to keep him alive and healthy, so they could kill him at a later date." Hussein was executed Saturday.

He also added that Hussein did not complain much, and, when he did, his complaint was usually legitimate. "He had very good coping skills," Ellis said.

The dictator also shared memories of happier times with Ellis which included the time he spent with his children. The former dictator described telling the youngsters bedtime stories and giving his daughter half a Tums tablet when she had a stomachache.

Explaining Hussein's willingness to water the plants, Ellis said, "He said he was a farmer when he was young and he never forgot where he came from."

When Ellis told Hussein he had to leave for America because his brother was dying, Hussein hugged him and said he would be Ellis' brother.