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Kuwaiti-born Marine on third deployment in Iraq
Marine Corps News ^ | Oct 28, 2005 | Cpl. Ken Melton

Posted on 10/28/2005 3:59:51 PM PDT by SandRat

BARWANA, Iraq (Oct. 28, 2005) -- While many service members view a deployment to Iraq as a long separation from their family, Cpl. Yousef A. Badou sees it as a chance to visit his family who live in Kuwait near a U.S. military base.

Badou was born in Qurain, Kuwait, which he describes as the “Beverly Hills of the Middle East.” He lived there happily until the Iraqi invasion in 1991 when he and his family left for America, and it was there that he would find his calling in life.

“There were a lot of military members during that time, but the Marines seemed to stand out among the others,” the 22-year-old said. “When I was in the Boy Scouts, a lot of my troop leaders were Marine infantrymen and I knew that’s what I wanted to be too.”

Badou attended an American school in Kuwait and visited his mother’s family in America during summers, so when he moved there permanently in 1998, he adjusted to Western Civilization easily.

He attended the Michigan Military Academy and graduated from Portage Central High School in 2002 before joining the Marine Corps and becoming a scout, a job that he describes as a cross between a regular infantryman and a reconnaissance Marine.

His native language of Gulf Arabic played a huge part in enabling him to deploy and it has helped him accomplish many things that others without his language proficiency would not be able to do.

“During an early OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) deployment, I was guarding a bridge in Tikrit and it was only one lane. Sometimes people with emergency needs would have to pass and the language barrier would often add stress to an already tense situation,” the Portage, Michigan native said. “Once I had to direct traffic so that a pregnant woman could get to a nearby hospital. That was a great feeling knowing that I made the situation better.”

His language skills have enabled him to work with many aspects of the military, such as civil affairs, border patrols, Iraqi soldiers, reconnaissance squads and detainees. His ability to speak the Arabic language has even helped him in combat situations.

“In another deployment in support of OIF, Sgt. Bryan Seibert and I were on patrol near the Syrian border near Al Qa’im when we noticed some suspicious men and I was able to trick them into thinking we were locals by speaking with them,” Badou said smiling coyly. “We got closer to them and we were able to capture them even though it was two against eight.”

Eventually he learned the area and the border patrol members, which played to his advantage when he was engaged in a firefight.

“Sgt. Seibert and I were attacking Syrian smugglers when the border patrol approached,” Badou remembered. “I yelled and told who we were and they remembered me. Then I told them which direction the insurgents were. They could’ve fired on us thinking it was a smuggler posing as a service member.”

Badou, now deployed a third time, is working with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance as a member of their commanding officer’s personal security jump team.

He knows his job as a scout and his Arabic language skills make him a force multiplier.

He plans to take his rest and relaxation period in the same place he usually takes it… at home in Kuwait.

“This is a big plus for me, essentially defending both of my homes and getting a free trip to visit my parents and siblings in Qurain,” Badou said smiling. “Then at the end of this deployment I will see them before I go back to my other safely defended home in America.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: born; deployment; gnfi; iraq; kuwaiti; marine; third
Photos at source
1 posted on 10/28/2005 3:59:51 PM PDT by SandRat
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To: 2LT Radix jr; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; 80 Square Miles; A Ruckus of Dogs; acad1228; AirForceMom; ..

MARINE PING!


2 posted on 10/28/2005 4:00:10 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat

3 posted on 10/28/2005 4:11:50 PM PDT by keithtoo (Vast Right Wing Conspiracy - Founding Member)
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To: SandRat
Sounds to me as if the Corporal has already done much more than his share in harm's way.I think he should be transferred stateside
and given a safe,cushy job as a recruiter or something....
and every single medal that he might possibly qualify for.
4 posted on 10/28/2005 4:22:26 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative
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To: SandRat

This fine Marine gets to defend both countries he loves...God bless him!


5 posted on 10/28/2005 4:25:08 PM PDT by AZamericonnie (~ www.ProudPatriots.org ~ Serving Those Who Serve Us~)
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To: ducks1944; Ragtime Cowgirl; Alamo-Girl; TrueBeliever9; maestro; TEXOKIE; My back yard; djreece; ...
Badou was born in Qurain, Kuwait, which he describes as the “Beverly Hills of the Middle East.” He lived there happily until the Iraqi invasion in 1991 when he and his family left for America, and it was there that he would find his calling in life.

“There were a lot of military members during that time, but the Marines seemed to stand out among the others,” the 22-year-old said. “When I was in the Boy Scouts, a lot of my troop leaders were Marine infantrymen and I knew that’s what I wanted to be too.”

6 posted on 10/28/2005 10:24:17 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: SandRat

BTTT


7 posted on 10/29/2005 3:12:48 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: Gay State Conservative

If the military transferred everyone stateside who had already done their share, you wouldn't have too many troops in Iraq.


8 posted on 10/29/2005 3:16:09 AM PDT by leadpenny
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To: leadpenny
If the military transferred everyone stateside who had already done their share, you wouldn't have too many troops in Iraq.

True...but I'm convinced that he's done *more* than his share....much more!

9 posted on 10/29/2005 6:40:28 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative
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To: Calpernia

Thanks for the ping!


10 posted on 10/29/2005 9:21:05 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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