CPL HASSOUN VINDICATED! LIVED BY MARINE CORPS MOTTO: SEMPER FIDELIS!

FReepers BagCamAddict and Race Bannon ^ | July 22, 2004 | FReeper Race Bannon

[Chieftain]

FReeper Race Bannon started this thread Thursday night, and it is now Friday afternoon and very few FReepers have seen it.

Many here at FR were skeptical of Cpl Hassoun because of the rather bizarre circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

The good news, brought by Race Bannon in this thread is that highly placed sources in the Marines have vouched for Cpl Hassoun's legitimate HERO status!

[demlosers]

Please let me know--how is he a hero?

Where did I say he was a hero? Yeah, that's right I didn't.

I remember many FReepers hastily jumping to conclusions before facts were known.

[Badeye]

Way to early to make such a pronouncement in my opinion.

There is something wrong with this story, I can feel it in my gut.

And yes, I'm a vet. We'll see what the real story is soon enough.

[Melpomene]

As a side note, whatever happened to that kid holding the sign next to the kids, giving a thumbs-up? I think it was Lcpl Boudreaux? Did they ever determine if the sign was photoshopped, or what the original sign said?

[af_vet_1981]

Any FReepers going to eat crow?

Are you going to explain to them
1. How did Hassoun leave his post ?
2. How did Hassoun resist and try to escape ?
3. What happened to Hassoun's weapons ?
4. How many of the enemy did Hassoun kill and/or wound ?
5. How did Hassoun leave Iraq ?
6. How did Hassoun transit Syria ?
7. How did Hassoun end up with his relatives in Lebanon ?
8. How severe were Hassoun's wounds ?

I need answers to all these questions before I will call him a hero.

[douglas1]

I will .

[Chieftain]

That was photoshopped. On a thread I saw some time ago, a FReeper posted the website that anyone could write their own message on that photo.

[commish]

I have known Race Bannon for a long time on FR, if he says his source is Legit then that is good enough for me.

I admit, I also questioned Cpl. Hassoun's loyalty and intentions. It now looks like he did what he had to to get away, and that he stayed true to the Corps and his Platoon Nates.

I apologize for any negative comments I may have made about Cpl. Hassoun and welcome him back. Carry On Marine! Semper Fi!

[OXENinFLA]

COOL...............Now I hope he can help reconstruct the route he was taken on....

[demlosers]

Read post #21.

Why don't you ask the Marines that since I'm sure he has been debriefed.

[mtbopfuyn]

Crow isn't on my menu yet. There's still too many unanswered questions. Nope, far too many loose ends.

[Chieftain]

I was glad to read the news that Race posted, because as you stated, his word is gold.

All of us are PROUD of our brother, Cpl Hassoun.

They said the words, "Semper Fidelis" was the one thought that kept him hopeful!

[WatchOutForSnakes]

I agree. Still WAY to many unanswered questions yet for me. It doesn't pass the smell test, at least with the information we have so far.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Not how, but why did Hassoun leave his post ?

[af_vet_1981]

Not how, but why did Hassoun leave his post ?

I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt ...

[Chieftain]

Marine Who Vanished in Iraq Heading Home: HE IS LEGIT::NOT A TRAITOR!!!
Marine Corps Mafia, private e-mails | 07/22/04 | Marine E-Mails
Posted on 07/22/2004 9:57:16 PM EDT by RaceBannon
16 July
"Marine Who Vanished in Iraq Heading Home"

---

Some of you know the type of activities I supervise at the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (JPRA) or the Joint Service SERE Agency (JSSA) for you more senior gentleman. My staff and I have been directly involved in the repatriation and debriefing of Cpl Hausson. Obviously, I can not discuss the intimate details of his plight. I can share with the MILINET Community that this Marine's story is legit. He was abducted from his place of duty, interrogated, abused, threaten with death, yet upheld the traditional of the Marine Corps, protected his comrades, and abided by the articles of the Code of Conduct.

It's possible some of you have fallen victim to some official and unofficial mis-statement about Cpl Hassoun. We call the "CNN effect". In the coming days, weeks, or months you will find the media and people who just basically made up shit are wrong. The Marine Corps got one of its own back from the jaws of certain death. He should be welcomed back as a returning warrior, better yet as a Marine who has seen more than his share of hell.

Semper Fidelis, words that Cpl Hassoun clung to in his darkest hours.

Jim Perna Deputy Director for Intelligence Operations MSgt, USMC (Ret.)

Folks, there is no higher source than this one for me, I can now believe what I had only hoped about this lost Marine: That I was wrong to think what I thought about him, and he stayed true to the finest traditions of the Marine Corps.

1 posted on 07/22/2004 9:57:18 PM EDT by RaceBannon
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I want to make this a public apology.

I was wrong, thankfully.

I trust this source. Us old Marines still keep in touch, and I got this from one of my Old Marines I know from long ago.

This source is to be considered legit.

Ping EVERYONE you know to let them see: He IS for real, and was NOT a traitor like I and others wondered and even openly hinted at.

[af_vet_1981]

All of us are PROUD of our brother, Cpl Hassoun.

What did he do that makes you feel proud ?

[demlosers]

Marines' word is good enough for me.

[af_vet_1981]

He was abducted from his place of duty

I'm interested in more factual information on this item.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Well, this is certainly good news.

My only comment about this situation was that it was strange. I still feel that way, but that never meant it couldn't be strange in a good way.

[Netizen]

I'm interested in more factual information on this item.

Same here. He's supposedly abducted, and abused yet shows no bruising. Too many unanswered questions. imho