Muslim servicemembers are not the enemy; radical Islam is

November 6, 4:36 PMBaltimore Republican ExaminerSean O'Donnell

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The Army's III Corps headquarters at Fort Hood, Texas.
(AP/L.M. Otero)

© 2009 – Commentary

During boot camp on Parris Island, South Carolina, almost everything I learned about being a Marine was thanks to a Muslim servicemember.

My Senior Drill Instructor in Platoon 1020 of First Recruit Training Battalion was an exceptional Marine from his military bearing to his physical appearance. He was also an adherent of Islam.

During Marine boot camp, recruits within training platoons can work their way up to become leaders of recruits through the billets of squad leader and guide. Recruits who become squad leaders show good leadership potential, but recruits who become the platoon guide are already competent leaders. The recruit guide of my platoon, a former Navy master-at-arms, was also Muslim.

With the guidance of our Senior Drill Instructor, other Drill Instructors, and recruit guide, Platoon 1020 graduated as honor platoon of Alpha Company by competing against four other platoons. Every recruit in my platoon knew that our accomplishment was thanks in no small part to our great leaders; some of who followed the Islamic faith.

I remember the last Sunday on the island; our Senior Drill Instructor decided that the entire platoon would go to worship services together. Since the majority of our platoon was Catholic, everyone went to Catholic Mass. I remember after receiving communion, I turned around to return to my pew and there, sitting, was my entire platoon including my Muslim Senior Drill Instructor and recruit guide. I wonder if other Drill Instructors were that tolerant of other faiths to do what my Senior Drill Instructor did.

After Thursday’s massacre in Fort Hood, Texas by alleged gunman Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a Muslim, some people are quick to point the finger at the Islamic faith and Muslim servicemembers. America’s Muslim servicemembers (roughly 15,000 of them) have honorable served this country, have fought in two wars with radical Islamic enemies, and are as loyal as any servicemember. Muslim servicemembers are not the enemy; hijackers of the Islamic faith are.

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