Okay, I remember that we had a thread on this when there was a big stink about this guy and someone else not being able to see their new wives. Now it looks like at least one of them is getting a deserved written reprimand.
The book deal bit also kind of urks me. Considering all the possible charges that could (and probably should) be brought against the guy and someone is going to shell out money for his story.
Bill Kaczor on Salon.com wrote:
Dec. 1, 2003 | 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.
By the pricking of my thumb,
Something wicked this way comes.
Open, locks,
Whoever knocks.
I'm studying for the CPA exam. Have a nice summer, and if you're down just sit back and realize that Joe is off somewhere, doing much worse than you are.
Exactly. He was on duty in a place where his fellow soldiers have been routinely attacked but he feels put out that the military is pissed at him for getting married to a foreign national in a hazadous duty zone while he was supposed to be on patrol (watch).
Ten years ago he'd also be in trouble for not requesting permission to get married through his chain of command.
By the pricking of my thumb,
Something wicked this way comes.
Open, locks,
Whoever knocks.
He was also guilty of "divulging the time and location of the patrol to his bride and the Iraqi judge who married them". This is even worse than mere dereliction of duty.
"It's not evil for God to do it. Or for someone to do it at God's command."- Jonathan Boyd on baby-killing
"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC
"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness
"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.
And as I understand it, the troops were instructed to NOT fraternize with the local women for the specific reason that they didn't want marriages between American troops and Iraqis to complicate things.
How much you want to bet if her block was in the middle of a riot he'd break ranks to go and protect her?
Better question, how does the local mullah feel about her marrying an infidel?
Stuart: The only problem is, I'm losing track of which universe I'm in.
You kinda look like Jesus. With a lightsaber.- Peregrin Toker
He was on duty and took time off to get married.
