Strange Story of The
Muslim Soldier 'Kidnapped' In Iraq
Wassef Ali Hassoun
Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun traveled from the Marine Corps base at
Quantico, Va., to his home base, Camp Lejeune, N.C., late Tuesday, according to
the corps.
Purpose of the change was "the continuation of his repatriation process," said
Sgt. Spencer Harris, media chief at Camp Lejeune.
Repatriation is a phased approach to a former captive's return to active duty.
It can take weeks or months.
Hassoun was not to be available to the news media during the shift in location,
Harris added. He was uncertain about the West Jordan resident's schedule after
he went to Camp Lejeune, home of Hassoun's unit, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary
Force.
Questions raised about Hassoun's whereabouts while he was missing prompted him
to meet reporters Monday. He read a written statement saying he did not desert
and that he had been captured by anti-coalition forces in Iraq.
Hassoun was last with his unit on June 19 and did not report for duty the
following day. At first the Marines listed him as missing. But then a photo of
the blindfolded Hassoun appeared on the Al-Jazeera Web site, with a statement
supposedly from his captors threatening to behead him unless certain prisoners
were released. His status then was changed to captured.
A false report circulated Hassoun had been beheaded, then another posting said
he was being taken to a safe location and had pledged not to rejoin the
military. Soon after, on July 8, he contacted American officials in Lebanon, who
arranged for a meeting and his return to miliary control.
He spent a period at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and flew to
Quantico before heading to Camp Lejeune.
Although uncertainties remain about details between June 19 and July 8, he will
not be questioned by investigators until he is finished with repatriation,
LaToya Graddy of Quantico's public affairs department said earlier.
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