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Lawyer: Florida soldier reprimanded for marriage to Iraqi, will be discharged
The Charleston Gazette ^ | 1 December 2003 | BILL KACZOR Associated Press Writer

Posted on 12/01/2003 5:27:13 PM PST by 11th_VA

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) -- An American soldier has been reprimanded and will be discharged for taking a break from a foot patrol in Baghdad to marry an Iraqi woman, his lawyer said Monday.

Sgt. Sean Blackwell, 27, is being punished for divulging the time and location of the patrol to his bride and the Iraqi judge who married them, his attorney said. The Florida National Guardsman avoided a possible court-martial for dereliction of duty and disobeying orders.

Blackwell received a written reprimand in advance of the discharge, attorney Richard Alvoid said.

"The more they punish him, the more negative publicity the military likely will receive,'' he said. "He is guilty of falling in love.''

Florida Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Ron Tittle said he had no word on disciplinary action against Blackwell or a second Florida guardsman, Cpl. Brett Dagen, 37, who married another Iraqi woman in a double ceremony during a break on the same patrol Aug. 17. Both women are physicians.

The soldiers, attached to the 1st Armored Division, have been in Iraq since April. Both were Christians who converted to Islam before they married.

A division spokesman in Baghdad, Capt. Jason Beck, had no immediate comment on the soldiers' status. Blackwell's mother, Vickie McKee, said her son has told her he could be discharged and sent home by Christmas.

The Army has not permitted Blackwell to see his bride since the wedding but recently allowed them to resume contact by telephone, McKee said.

"He's a little ticked off at the government right now,'' she said. "I'd hate for him to get a dishonorable discharge because he fell in love.''

McKee said her son told her Dagen and his bride are divorcing under pressure from the wife's parents. Gwen Tutton, Dagen's cousin, said he has told family members to stop speaking to the media.

Alvoid said Blackwell's bride, Ehdaa, has received anti-American threats and may leave the country by Christmas to go to western Europe, where the couple could be reunited. It would take much longer to get her into the United States, he said.

The couple met while Blackwell was on guard duty at the Iraqi Health Ministry.

Alvoid said he soon expects to complete a book deal for Blackwell and his wife, and that a movie may follow.

AP-ES-12-01-03 1839EST


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq; warromance; weddingbells
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discharged for taking a break from a foot patrol in Baghdad to marry an Iraqi woman

My be some woman ...

1 posted on 12/01/2003 5:27:13 PM PST by 11th_VA
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To: 11th_VA
"Both were Christians who converted to Islam before they married."

Correction: both called themselves Christians - just as so many Americans do.

2 posted on 12/01/2003 5:29:59 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: 11th_VA
for taking a break from a foot patrol in Baghdad to marry an Iraqi woman...

-------------------------

Wandered away from his post during time of hostilities. This clown is not a soldier. He's a jackass that was given a uniform.

3 posted on 12/01/2003 5:32:51 PM PST by RLK
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To: 11th_VA
"He is guilty of falling in love.''

He's also d@mn lucky he didn't get everyone on his patrol killed.

But whaddaya expect from an NG.

4 posted on 12/01/2003 5:36:24 PM PST by templar
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To: RLK
I'd hate for him to get a dishonorable discharge because he fell in love.

That's not why he's getting punished. This is:

Sgt. Sean Blackwell, 27, is being punished for divulging the time and location of the patrol to his bride and the Iraqi judge who married them, his attorney said.

Lots of guys fall in love without abandoning their posts and releasing classified information. That is inexcusable. His lack of self-control could have led to the members of his patrol being ambushed. Too bad he's not getting brig time for this.

5 posted on 12/01/2003 5:38:16 PM PST by XJarhead
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To: XJarhead
Semper Fi - ditto
6 posted on 12/01/2003 5:41:12 PM PST by PokeyJoe (Merry F'ing Christmas (From the new hit movie "Bad PokeyJoe"))
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To: 11th_VA
Sgt. Sean Blackwell, 27, is being punished for divulging the time and location of the patrol to his bride and the Iraqi judge who married them, his attorney said.

I am sure that the other soldiers assigned to patrol with moron are relieved that he is removed - I am! I surely would not want my son serving with him - he put everyone on his team at risk because he could only think with his small head!

7 posted on 12/01/2003 5:41:48 PM PST by TrueBeliever9
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To: All
WORTH REPEATING - ARTICLE SNIPPET:


"Sgt. Sean Blackwell, 27, is being punished for divulging the time and location of the patrol to his bride and the Iraqi judge who married them, his attorney said. The Florida National Guardsman avoided a possible court-martial for dereliction of duty and disobeying orders. Blackwell received a written reprimand in advance of the discharge, attorney Richard Alvoid said.

8 posted on 12/01/2003 5:43:46 PM PST by Cindy
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To: 11th_VA
Both were Christians who converted to Islam before they marry

I am Christian - REAL Christians know The Light and The Life and do not convert to darkness and death! These men were impersonators - there are millions of them walking around!

9 posted on 12/01/2003 5:44:21 PM PST by TrueBeliever9
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To: XJarhead
He needs a year in barbed-wire village.
10 posted on 12/01/2003 5:44:49 PM PST by RLK
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To: templar; Old Sarge
How dare you insult the National Guard!...there are tens of thousands over there right now including my husband who has been in over 30 years(full time)...he's been shot at, mortared daily and has lost 3 of his crew from the Chinook attack...how dare you!
11 posted on 12/01/2003 5:45:26 PM PST by mystery-ak (GodSpeed, Mike.)
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To: snerkel; 11th_VA
Since it's impossible for a Christian believer to become a non-believer, then a conversion by a Christian to Islam is not possible.
12 posted on 12/01/2003 5:46:14 PM PST by xzins (Proud to be Army!)
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To: xzins
From another thread on FR: Sebastian Sellam, 23, was a popular disc jockey at a hot Parisian night club called Queen. At about 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday November 19, the young man known as DJ Lam C (a reverse play on his surname) left the apartment he shared with his parents in a modest building in of Paris’ 10th arrondissement near la Place Colonel Fabien, heading to work as usual. In the underground parking lot, a Muslim neighbor slit Sellam’s throat twice, according to the Rosenpress interview. His face was completely mutilated with a fork. Even his eyes were gouged out.

Following the crime, Rosenpress correspondent Alain Azria reported, Sellam’s mother said the Muslim perpetrator mounted the stairs, his hands still bloody, and announced his crime. “I have killed my Jew. I will go to heaven,” he reportedly said. The alleged murderer’s family was well known for rabid anti-Semitism, Mrs. Sellam reportedly told Rosenpress, a point confirmed to the news agency by the victim’s brother. Within the previous year, Sellam’s mother reportedly said, the family found a dead rooster outside their apartment door with its throat slit, and their Mezzuza was ripped from their door post. Leaving dead roosters is reportedly a traditional warning of impending murder.

13 posted on 12/01/2003 5:50:41 PM PST by TrueBeliever9
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To: XJarhead
I remember there was a case of a seaman getting courtmarshalled because during a battle he took the mortally wounded captain from the bridge. In doing so he abandoned his post.

What this guy did was leagues worse.
14 posted on 12/01/2003 5:52:48 PM PST by Bogey78O (No! Don't throw me in the briar patch!!!!!)
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To: TrueBeliever9
I mailed this out today to two Jewish friends, one who is an Israeli in Europe. I keep advising him to leave now.

He's nervous, but can't decide between the US and Israel as a place of refuge. Ultimately, the best refuge is Israel.
15 posted on 12/01/2003 5:55:30 PM PST by xzins (Proud to be Army!)
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To: templar; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; SAMWolf
He's also d@mn lucky he didn't get everyone on his patrol killed.
But whaddaya expect from an NG.

America expects, and gets, a lot more, it seems, than some pony-tailed, sagging-butted easy chair wannabe like you.

There are 72,000 of my fellow citizen soldiers, both in CONUS and across the lake, defending your privilege (it's NOT a right) to be a free moron, and only ignorance can excuse that comment, old man.

16 posted on 12/01/2003 6:01:49 PM PST by Old Sarge (Serving YOU... on Operation Noble Eagle!)
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To: mystery-ak
...how dare you!

Practical experience. Viet Nam.

To be fair, I also had the unplesant experience of serving under an ROTC shavetail over there for a brief period. The NG were a better deal.

NG's are for homeland use, not for foreign deployment. In theory, anyway.

May the Good Lord bless and keep your husband safe.

17 posted on 12/01/2003 6:02:24 PM PST by templar
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To: Old Sarge
America expects, and gets, a lot more, it seems, than some pony-tailed, sagging-butted easy chair wannabe like you

Two tours in Viet Nam Old Sarge. And you shouldn't say things like that to a vet unless you're willing to say them to his face. Illl be happy to give you the chance. Wanna Meet somewhere?

18 posted on 12/01/2003 6:06:09 PM PST by templar
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To: templar
Pick it, Fat Boy, as soon as you can get your lardass off the couch and moving faster than your mouth.

My second war, too, pal. What are YOU doing for the war, or you lost something while you were there, perhaps?

19 posted on 12/01/2003 6:11:21 PM PST by Old Sarge (Serving YOU... on Operation Noble Eagle!)
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To: RLK
Agreed. I'm glad they did this. I was worried when I first saw articles about this that the whiners would win.
20 posted on 12/01/2003 6:13:20 PM PST by livius
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