Soldier Faces Discharge for Iraq Marriage

Monday, December 1, 2003
(7:30 PM ET)
By Bill Kaczor

Associated Press Writer

The couple met while Blackwell was on guard duty at the Iraqi Health Ministry. Alvoid said he soon expects to complete a book deal for Blackwell and his wife, and that a movie may follow.

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- AP
An American soldier has been reprimanded and will be discharged for taking a break from a foot patrol in Baghdad to marry an Iraqi woman, his lawyer said Monday.

Sgt. Sean Blackwell, 27, is being punished for divulging the time and location of the patrol to his bride and the Iraqi judge who married them, his attorney said. The Florida National Guardsman avoided a possible court-martial for dereliction of duty and disobeying orders.

Blackwell received a written reprimand in advance of the discharge, attorney Richard Alvoid said.

``The more they punish him, the more negative publicity the military likely will receive,'' he said. ``He is guilty of falling in love.''
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2003 © The Associated Press.

Funny headline. Odd how the media likes to misrepresent the U.S. Militaries, so long as it sells papers. Here we have an excellent example of a soldier being discharged for abandoning his post in a time of war, and passing critical information about troop movements to Iraqi nationals, whereas the headline clearly states he's really being punished for marrying an Iraqi citizen -- which might also be a crime, depending upon the DD Forms he submitted to marry the Iraqi citizen.

And I don't see where his Army-hating attorney is doing him a lick of good,

Dan (wondering why I kept my nose so clean -- I could have a movie by now!!)