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Fla. Guardsmen Probed on Iraqi Marriages; Christians who converted to Islam so they could be married
Associated Press ^
| 10-03-03
Posted on 10/03/2003 6:19:47 PM PDT by Brian S
By BILL KACZOR
PACE, Fla. - Two Florida National Guard soldiers who married Iraqi women against their commander's wishes are being investigated for allegedly defying an order, their families said.
The men, both Christians who converted to Islam so they could be married under Iraqi law, had expected to return to Florida this month, but a new Army policy that requires troops to remain in Iraq for 12 continuous months may keep them there until April.
In the meantime, Sgt. Sean Blackwell, 27, of Pace, and Cpl. Brett Dagen, 37, of Walnut Hill, want to send their wives to the United States because of threats from anti-American Iraqis.
Vickie McKee, Blackwell's mother, said Friday her daughter-in-law has asked that the women not be identified for that reason. Both women are physicians.
"She's being threatened over there on almost a daily basis," McKee said. "He just wants to know that she's safe."
McKee, who said the Army is trying to prevent the women from coming to the United States, has delivered letters from her son and his wife to the district office of U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller. Dan McFaul, a spokesman for Miller, said the congressman can do nothing until the women request visas.
Blackwell's wife, now working as an interpreter for an American firm in Baghdad, wrote that the Army has prevented him from contacting her since the double wedding on Aug. 17.
"Is this freedom in U.S.?" she wrote. "Where is the human right? Where is justice?"
McKee said the soldiers have been barred from using e-mail. For a time they also were prohibited from calling home, she said.
"It's an embarrassment to the Army," said Dagen's mother, Laverne Warren. Warren said her son also was not permitted to contact his Iraqi wife.
An Army spokesman at the Pentagon referred questions to officials in Iraq, who declined comment.
Lt. Col. Ron Tittle, spokesman for the Florida National Guard in St. Augustine, said he did not know whether disciplinary action had been taken or is contemplated, but that the soldiers' battalion commander, Lt. Col. Thad Hill, had said he was worried the marriages might distract his troops from their mission and compromise their safety.
In his letter to Miller, Blackwell said the Army Inspector General's office has told him he cannot be punished for getting married, but that he could be disciplined for disobeying an order.
Other soldiers, including his company commander, were supportive, but Hill and a sergeant major opposed the marriages, Blackwell wrote. He added that the sergeant major told him "Muslims and Christians just don't jive together."
An Iraqi judge married the couples while the soldiers were on a foot patrol, Blackwell wrote.
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: army; fraternization; immigration; iraq; military; nationalguard; war; warromance
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1
posted on
10/03/2003 6:19:48 PM PDT
by
Brian S
To: Brian S
Good Lord,they are getting married to Iraqi women already! Their parents must be thrilled!
2
posted on
10/03/2003 6:23:58 PM PDT
by
Mears
To: Brian S
These guys have got to be morons.
3
posted on
10/03/2003 6:24:50 PM PDT
by
Cicero
(Marcus Tullius)
To: All
Is Someone Else Carrying Your Water?
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4
posted on
10/03/2003 6:25:40 PM PDT
by
Support Free Republic
(Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
To: Brian S
The men, both Christians who converted to Islam so they could be married under Iraqi law... Talk about desperation!
5
posted on
10/03/2003 6:26:22 PM PDT
by
PJ-Comix
(A Stitch In Time Won't Save You A Dime But At Least It Makes This Dopey Saying Rhyme.)
To: Brian S
Geez, guys, get a Penthouse!
6
posted on
10/03/2003 6:27:24 PM PDT
by
clintonh8r
(A gentleman should know something about everything and everything about something.)
Pensacola Florida National Guard Sgt. Sean Blackwell, of Pace, Fla., right, exchanges wedding bands with his Iraqi bride, who did not want to be identified, on their wedding day, Aug. 17, 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq. Family members say Blackwell, 27, and another Florida guardsman, Cpl. Brett Dagen, 37, of Walnut Hill, are being investigated for allegedly violating an order against marrying Iraqi women. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Family)
Pensacola Florida National Guard Sgt. Sean Blackwell, of Pace, Fla., right, stands next to his Iraqi bride, who did not want to be identified, on their wedding day, Aug. 17, 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq. Family members say Blackwell, 27, and another Florida guardsman, Cpl. Brett Dagen, 37, of Walnut Hill, are being investigated for allegedly violating an order against marrying Iraqi women. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Family)
7
posted on
10/03/2003 6:32:10 PM PDT
by
saquin
To: Brian S
My first question would be: is an order not to marry someone lawful?
8
posted on
10/03/2003 6:40:28 PM PDT
by
anguish
(while science catches up.... mysticism!)
To: saquin
Looks like a pretty secular event, Muslim-conversion notwithstanding.
These Iraq relationships shouldn't come as a shocker. Has there ever been a long-term deployment or war in which GIs didn't bring home war-brides? (There's a reason why every Army base in this country is ringed by various Korean churches and enterprises).
9
posted on
10/03/2003 6:48:25 PM PDT
by
dagnabbit
(No Matricula-Merger with Mexico. Don't Let 'Em Abolish the USA)
To: dagnabbit
I agree. I don't see anything sinister here.Some of those Iraqi women I see in the news videos are pretty hot.
10
posted on
10/03/2003 6:52:36 PM PDT
by
WackyKat
To: Brian S
I only served on active duty, but is it common for a 37 year-old to be a corporal (E-4) in the National Guard (without disciplinary action)?
To: anguish
My first question would be: is an order not to marry someone lawful?It was when I was in the Airforce ('82-'86). Even stateside (I never went overseas) you had to get premission. It was almost never denied, mind you, but in theory it could be.
12
posted on
10/03/2003 6:55:59 PM PDT
by
Stultis
To: Stultis
Geez. I would've thought that it was up to each person to decide to whom they'd get married. I'd refuse to ask for permission from anyone. Well, except the bride that is :)
13
posted on
10/03/2003 7:00:42 PM PDT
by
anguish
(while science catches up.... mysticism!)
14
posted on
10/03/2003 7:15:33 PM PDT
by
saquin
To: Brian S
"Is this freedom in U.S.?" she wrote. "Where is the human right? Where is justice?" Sometimes, such niceties are trumped by the "needs of the service" clause.
15
posted on
10/03/2003 7:21:43 PM PDT
by
Polybius
To: anguish
I'd refuse to ask for permission from anyone.Nobody asks permission of the taxpayer, either, to pony up the additional benefits for the spouses and dependents of military members, but they do.
16
posted on
10/03/2003 8:01:49 PM PDT
by
Stultis
To: RabidBartender
The Guard will take a prior serviceman. He could have been out for 15 years and joined the guard after 9/11 coming in with his previous rank. Age 37 less say 3 years active duty deducted from his age makes him eligible. (I believe age 34 is the cut off) Its been a while, but I seem to remember it being that way.
17
posted on
10/03/2003 8:10:02 PM PDT
by
Bringbackthedraft
(Temp down to 30's last night, snow in the Adirondacks, time to go south.)
To: Cicero
Horny morons.
18
posted on
10/03/2003 8:11:32 PM PDT
by
Blood of Tyrants
(Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
To: anguish
No, in the military you must ask and receive permission to marry a non-U.S. citizen. I presume this is so the FBI can run a background check on the potential spouse to see if he/she is a spy.
19
posted on
10/03/2003 8:13:43 PM PDT
by
Blood of Tyrants
(Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
To: RabidBartender
My friend was in the Navy for 4 years. He got out in '86 and then joined the NG in 2002 at the age of 39. He is now 40 and in Iraq and an E-3 (just got promoted to E-4 but not paid for it yet). He is twice the age of some of the kids in his unit.
20
posted on
10/03/2003 8:16:27 PM PDT
by
Blood of Tyrants
(Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
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