November 17, 2004
Associated Press

FALLUJAH, Iraq — U.S. troops have recovered belongings of a Marine who was once feared beheaded by Iraqi insurgents after disappearing from his unit, U.S. officials said.
The personal effects of Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun were found last week in a box on the third floor of a three-story commercial building in Fallujah, the officials said. The property included an identification card, a uniform and a book.

Hassoun, of West Jordan, Utah, disappeared from his base near Fallujah in June and later turned up at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. It remains unclear how he traveled from Iraq to Lebanon, where he has relatives.

On June 27, Arab television showed a videotape of a blindfolded Hassoun, a sword hanging over his head. At one point while he was missing, a group claiming to represent his captors announced that he had been beheaded after being lured from the base by a love affair.

Hassoun returned in July to the Marine base at Camp Lejeune, N.C. In September, medical authorities at Camp Lejeune declared him fit for full duty, allowing him to return to the brigade motor pool where he worked before he deployed to Iraq in February.

Where there's smoke, there's fire. I don't want to accuse the Marine without knowing all of the facts, but...

The terrorists are beheading or executing everyone they get their hands on. A Marine execution would be a feather in their cap (turban). So how is it that this guy was let go, and possibly even helped escape the country?

I hear you on that one Tow. When there is any doubt, there usually is no doubt. Like you though, I don't want to make accusations without knowing the full story.

The way it sounds he wasn't kidnapped. . . AWOL would fit this description a little better!!

He was originally listed as UA on June 19th (the papers still print it wrong~ ).

IMO~ Just because we now know who had him, does not mean he did anything wrong. They kept his stuff for a reason, we'll never know why now, but we can have our suspicions...

Do you really think he could have gotten to Jordan unharmed wearing a Marine Corps Uniform? I sure as hell don't!

I doubt we (those of us not on a need to know basis) will ever know the what's, when's, where's, how's and why's about this whole thing.

Hassoun's things found in Fallujah
ID, uniform: The belongings of the Utah Marine, who says he was abducted, were discovered during a search by U.S. soldiers
By Robert Gerhke and Derek Jensen
The Salt Lake Tribune

WASHINGTON - American troops searching buildings in the Iraqi city of Fallujah apparently have come across some personal belongings of Utah Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun, who said he was abducted last summer from his base near the city.

Hassoun failed to report for duty June 20 and was believed to have deserted until videotapes were broadcast, apparently showing insurgents wielding a sword over his head. Hassoun was blindfolded and wearing military fatigues.

That uniform was found last week by U.S. soldiers searching the third floor of a commercial building in Fallujah, military sources told The Associated Press. The box also contained Hassoun's military identification card and a book.

Maj. Matt Morgan, spokesman for Hassoun's unit, the 4th Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., said information from Iraqi operations is classified but the reports are based on "relatively legitimate information."

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service reported the findings of its investigation to commanders at Camp Lejeune two weeks ago, but the inquiry remains open and any new information can be taken into account, Morgan said.

"It's impossible to tell at this point what bearing, if any, this potential evidence will have," Morgan said.

Spokespersons for the NCIS were traveling and could not be reached Wednesday.

The videotapes were aired June 27, and shortly after that a group released a statement claiming to have beheaded him.

On July 8, however, Hassoun turned up at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. How he traveled through Iraq to Lebanon remains a mystery. After his return to the United States, Hassoun issued a pair of statements, spare on details but insisting he had been kidnapped. A native of Lebanon who now is a U.S. citizen, Hassoun pledged his loyalty to the nation and the Marine Corps.

Following a lengthy repatriation process and a 30-day compassionate leave in Utah, Hassoun returned to duty at Camp Lejeune in September and had his first meeting with military investigators.

In his final interview with NCIS investigators at the end of September, Hassoun terminated the meeting shortly after being read his rights under military law.

Hassoun was on leave for much of October, spending the Islamic holy month of Ramadan with his family in West Jordan. He returned to Camp Lejeune on Wednesday.

I think that there are alot of unanswered questions surrounding this marine and I don't think they will stay that way for very long. I just hope it is in his favor and not the other way around.

quote:

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Originally posted by coachman:
I think that there are alot of unanswered questions surrounding this marine and I don't think they will stay that way for very long. I just hope it is in his favor and not the other way around.

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Couldn't have said it better myself.

sgreen, I really hope that this marine did not willing allow himself to be used for their cause that would really be a bad thing and I would not give .02 cents for his ass with the corps.

Until ALL facts of this are made public, and the military renders their decision, whether based on the new info, or no, I am going to continue to support him and reserve judgement. jmo.

Hassoun to be charged with desertion and larceny:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/12/09/hassoun.desert/index.html

Hassoun now using alias, says NCIS:

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2524335

The alias is Jafar. Isn't that a character in a Disney movie?

Well Amvet I guess now you can judge him for yourself, I say GUILTY AS CHARGED. If he is not them why run away, I mean if he was not then why not stay and defend himself and prove that he is not a dirt bag?

Have to admit that he has pretty much sentenced himself as guilty by running.