Posted on 05/09/2003 6:16:54 AM PDT by ex-Texan
Delaware State Bar Honors Iraqi Lawyer Involved in American POW Rescue
The State Bar of Delaware honored the Iraqi lawyer who was instrumental in the rescue of America's first female war hero Jessica Lynch. Mohammed Odeh al-Rehaief was honored at the Bar Association "Law Day" luncheon. Virginia attorney Tom Kalij accompanied al-Rehaief and his family to the luncheon. Mr. Kalij has been acting as the American host for the now famous Iraqi lawyer.
Although he was honored at the luncheon, al-Rehaief did not give a speech. Mr. Kalij reportedly said al-Rehaief asked him to tell the crowd, "May God bless America, and may God grant President Bush long life and the wisdom of Solomon."
On April 1, a U.S. special operations team acted on a tip from al-Rehaief and conducted a middle-of-the-night raid on a hospital in the Iraqi city of Nasiriyah. They found and rescued Pfc. Lynch, an Army supply clerk from Palestine, W.Va., who was injured and taken prisoner when the 507th Maintenance Company convoy was ambushed in March.
Al-Rehaief reportedly walked more than six miles at great personal risk to report that the American soldier was being beaten in the hospital. He gave U.S. troops detailed information about the hospital, its layout and drew a map to help U.S. forces planning the rescue.
I quote briefly from a report filed on May 9th by the Wilmington, Delaware News Journal about the award:
"Mohammed, what you did was extraordinary, and America is grateful," said Claire M. DeMatteis, a member of the bar's executive committee. She and Patricia C. Hannigan, the association president, presented al-Rehaief with a silver tray, a plaque, a $1,000 check and a resolution recognizing his actions and making him a lifetime honorary member of the state bar.
Homeland Security officials reported last month that the al-Rehaief family has been granted asylum in the United States. The family was brought to the U.S. from a refugee camp in Iraq in early April.
Americans owe a deep debt of gratitude to this brave Iraqi lawyer who acted at great personal risk to help save Pfc. Jessica Lynch.
(Excerpt) Read more at newspundit.net ...
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