Muslim Soldiers in the US Army and Ignorance, Prejudice & Discrimination

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I have been subject to and seen the above in the Army. If the soldier is somewhat different and SMARTER than his Sergeants he is in for HELL.

This latest story from hell is about Army Specialist Zachari Klawonn reported in the Washington Post. Spc. Zachari Klawonn is the son of an American Air Force Veteran who died when his son was 15. His mother is Moroccan and the son is Muslim and speaks Arabic. If you didn’t know you’d think he was a typical American young man and his Army buddies feel the same.

He wanted to serve like his father and joined the Army. How his Drill Sergeant found out he was Muslim isn’t known and it was none of his business. By the ignorant Sergeant he was humiliated in front of his 400 man Battalion which drew threats and “Camel Jockey”, “Rag head”, “Sand Monkey”, et cetera.

Most of those close to him regarded him as smart, brave, dedicated and the best soldier in the Battalion. This is really something for someone who has been humiliated by the Drill Sergeant. One soldier emailed him “You can join me in my foxhole anytime” which is the highest praise and honor a Dogface Soldier can bestow.

I don’t believe this ignorant Drill Sergeant is in the right place – extremely poor judgment! As far as Spc. Klawonn is concerned with his Arabic language facility he is one valuable soldier and should be protected by one, two or maybe four soldiers as were the Japanese American soldiers in Asia or the Navaho Code Talkers who did look like Japanese.

If the Army was smart, ha ha ha, they would make him at least a 5 Stripe Tech Sergeant or a Warrant Officer. He is tooooo valuable to allow to be discharged.

It is fortunate that the Washington Post picked up this story we need many Spc. Klawonn’s but fewer ignorant Sergeants.

Got a question or comment for Dr. Leveque?
Email him: Newsroom@Salem-News.com

More information on the history of Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of Phil Leveque about his experiences in WWII.
Order the book by mail by following this link: Dogface Soldier.
If you are a World War II history buff, you don't want to miss it.

Watch for more streaming video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King Dr. Phil Leveque.

Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana on Salem-News.com: Dr. Leveque INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES

Salem-News.com Marijuana Coverage

Where and How to Smoke Legal Marijuana without Fear of Arrest in the U.S.

Eulogy of a Great Warrior: Hoss Plourde

The Ripple Effect How Marijuana Laws Are Impacting Society

Audit the Audit

Welcome Home, Tom

Comments Leave a comment on this story.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

Roland Nicholson, Jr. May 14, 2011 7:29 am (Pacific time)

As a former US Army officer I find this story very sad. If the US plans to continue the expensive international role that it seems intent on maintaining, we have to do better than this. After 9/11 thousands of members of every branch of the military, reserve, National Guard and active duty found themselves being deployed to parts of the world that they knew little about. Many of those deploying to Iraq did not the difference between Sunni & Shia Muslims. The lack of adequate numbers of Arabic speaking soldiers was a big problem. As a former recruiter I was amazed to find the wall that went up when some potential Arabic speaking recruits could not enlist because of "security problems". Couple this with the fact that the Army linguistic school has lost a number of soldiers because of suspected homosexual conduct and one wonders whether we can ever get enough Arabic speakers. This is also true for Farsi, Urdu and other tongues of the Muslim world.

A number of Muslims, who are not inyent on commiting viloent acts in any sense, have becme very embittered in Europe because of the way they are treated in the nations in which they reside. Muslim Americans need to be welcomed into all phases of American life. They bring much to the table. The fear of "sleeper cells" is way overblown. Tim McVeigh was not a sleeper. We have the enemy and he is us.

Anonymous May 14, 2011 7:31 am (Pacific time)

As a former US Army officer I find this story very sad. If the US plans to continue the expensive international role that it seems intent on maintaining, we have to do better than this. After 9/11 thousands of members of every branch of the military, reserve, National Guard and active duty found themselves being deployed to parts of the world that they knew little about. Many of those deploying to Iraq did not the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims. The lack of adequate numbers of Arabic speaking soldiers was a big problem. As a former recruiter I was amazed to find the wall that went up when some potential Arabic speaking recruits could not enlist because of "security problems". Couple this with the fact that the Army linguistic school has lost a number of soldiers because of suspected homosexual conduct and one wonders whether we can ever get enough Arabic speakers. This is also true for Farsi, Urdu and other tongues of the Muslim world. A number of Muslims, who are no sense prone to violence t in any sense, have becme very embittered in Europe because of the way they are treated in the nations in which they reside. Muslim Americans need to be welcomed into all phases of American life. They bring much to the table. The fear of "sleeper cells" is way overblown. Tim McVeigh was not a sleeper. We met have the enemy and he is us.

Mehdi February 6, 2011 12:14 pm (Pacific time)

Hey Vic, nobody is betraying anyone if the muslim soldiers are primarily battling terrorists, or any oppsition attempting to kill him. Sure civillians get killed, and weddings bombed, and children killed, I dont like it more then the next guy, when I hear innocent bystanders get killed my heart dies a bit, but what we have right now is a war. In war, people use wierd weapons "the drones" and civillians will get killed, thats what happens in war. We invaded that country on Bush's command, for he actually thought there were bombs, nukes and what not. And to the whole "We are the good guys" thing, all wars are based on perspective, in vietnam, we were the good guys, till people woke up and saw what was actually happening. In the civil war, the confederates were the good guys in their eyes, in the revolution, we were good guysin our eyes, but the British were also good guys in their eyes. Its all about perspective of who is fighting who. SO sure, we're the good guys right now, but for the Afghan army fighting us, they arte the good guys too. Again, nobodys truly betraying anybody, this guy is just helping in the fight agaisnt people who want to kill him, his comrades, and us too. Technically its not betrayel if your a citizen in the country you are fighting for, and if your helping kill the people who killed your men, and people.

Saad January 2, 2011 1:16 am (Pacific time)

The Army has no tech sergeants.....the Army is smart....I doubt this guy was the smartest soldier in the batallion. By singing his praises, you're not helping his case, but are rather harming your journalistic integrity. I am a Muslim soldier by the way. Please deliver your stories without bias and with accuracy if you really want to help our cause. And maybe cut out the medical marijuana links while you're at it.

Vic April 23, 2010 8:04 am (Pacific time)

"Right and wrong?....like invading a country that never threatened us based on LIES and killing over a million people? That kind of right and wrong? Using drones to blow up villages with a civilian to combatant kill ratio of 60 to 1? That kind of right and wrong? Bombing weddings (nine last year..in one attack over 60 CHILDREN were killed)...that kind of right and wrong? You are correct,Meriem..there is a war between right and wrong going on...you are just on the WRONG side. And these traitors are too. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid and ignore things like the polls that show that a majority of the world sees the United States as the biggest threat to world peace. Ignore the fact that only one nation has used nuclear weapons on cities..twice. Ignore the fact that the US is the largest producer and exporter of WMDs and weapons..keep telling yourself.."We are the good guys...we are the good guys" and villify and slander anyone who tries to point out the truth..you should be fine.

Meriem April 22, 2010 2:00 pm (Pacific time)

To Vic, He's not killing Muslims,if you rememer the war is against the terroists and unless your naive enough to think that all muslims are terroists you would all be naive to think that all christians are KKK members, so he's fighting for whats right and wrong. Get it straight,you should be proud that this soldier is even in the Army!

Vic April 16, 2010 5:50 am (Pacific time)

Why any Muslim would help the US/Israel campaign to kill Muslims is utterly beyond me. That seems to me to be the highest form of betrayal. Everyone has their price, I guess..How do they live with themselves? How many of you would help an invading army beat down and kill US citizens? What would be your price? I wouldnt do it for all the money in the world. These people are despicable.

Osotan; April 15, 2010 9:40 pm (Pacific time)

thanks Doc!, one day maybe there will be peace and no need for wars, I hope Zachari and all of them come home today!

[Return to Top]