Article: For Muslims in U.S. military, questions of faith and patriotism; Hard questions over faith for Muslim U.S. soldiers

ANDREA ELLIOTT
International Herald Tribune
11-10-2009
For Muslims in U.S. military, questions of faith and patriotism; Hard questions over faith for Muslim U.S. soldiers
Byline: ANDREA ELLIOTT
Type: News

As the United States has become mired in two wars on Muslim lands, the service of Muslim Americans is more necessary and more complicated than ever before.

Abdi Akgun joined the U.S. Marines in August of 2000, fresh out of high school and eager to serve his country. As a Muslim, the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, only steeled his resolve to fight terrorism.
But when Mr. Akgun was deployed to Iraq with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in the early days of the war, the thought of confronting ...