Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A 1924 study by Princeton professor Philip Hitti found that 13,965 Arab Americans served during World War I. It is estimated as many as 15,000 served during World War II. Countless others served during the Korean conflict and Vietnam War – and most recently in the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Who are we?

There are more than 4.5 million Americans of Arab Heritage who originate from 22 Arab World and Middle East countries. They include Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, the Comoros Islands, and Djibouti.

We are Muslim and Christian and proud of our heritage, culture and demand our rights.

We support Palestine & Palestinian Rights

Turmoil in the Middle East has caused misinformation to be published about many of the Arabs in America. The largest groups include Egyptians, Lebanese, Jordanians, Syrians, Saudi Arabians and Palestinians. Yes, Palestinians do exist and they have served along with all of the other Arab American national and ethnic groups proudly. They should be respected and recognized for their service, heritage and culture.

We want your story …

This website is intended as a source for information about the Arab people who live in America and who have served in the U.S. Military. Military service is sacred and we deserve to be treated equally and with respect. Email your story and a photo to Ray Hanania at [email protected]

Air Force SA Yosry Zaki, Egyptian-born, American-proud
Air Force SA Yosry Zaki, Egyptian-born, American-proud By Senior Airman Austin Jackson 908th Airlift Wing Public Affiars/Published May 12, 2023 MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS) — When an Airman raises their right hand to serve in the United States military, they join for various reasons. For some, it is a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream; for others, it may be to develop their leadership and education. All Airmen sacrifice to serve, but not many travel halfway around the world to put service before self like Senior Airman Yosry Zaki, a flight services technician in the 908th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. His journey to the U.S. Air Force Reserve began nearly 20 years ago in the small village of Umm Al Qusur, Egypt. About 900 miles from Cairo, Zaki’s village wasn’t exactly a destination spot for many tourists, so he wasn’t overly exposed to other cultures. However, Zaki’s love for America was nurtured through television. “I used to watch ‘Friends’ and I love ‘Die Hard’ the movie,” Zaki said. “I thought, ‘why can’t I live this way?’” While others may have viewed these programs for their entertainment value, Zaki saw the comedy, politics and action as a taste of freedom. So, the inspired teenager began applying to the Diversity Immigration Visa Program. Administered by the U.S. Department of State, the program selects recipients from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. For years, Zaki’s application wasn’t selected. “I applied every year since I was 18,” he said. “I did not hear back, so I applied the following year.” Zaki often wondered if his American dream would ever become a reality. But he persisted in his efforts and continued to provide for his family while obtaining degrees in accounting, computer science and education, a work ethic that, for him, was normal. “In Egypt, it is normal to have multiple jobs,” he added. “So, I worked as a teacher during the day, then a pharmacy technician at night.” One day, nearly 12 years later, his pharmacy technician business partner knocked at his door with a letter from the Diversity Visa Program. “He said, ‘You’re going to America!’” Zaki recounted. “And I thought, ‘Oh wow! My dream is finally coming true!’” Zaki soon realized that his dream would be a bittersweet experience for the rest of his family. In traditional Egyptian culture, the oldest son is the family’s rock. Being the oldest child means looking after aging parents and handling all family business matters. “You are like the support [for the family],” he said. “It is like they lost their support.” In December 2015, Zaki moved to Niceville, Florida, with his pregnant wife and young daughter. There they would be received by a family friend who helped them get the necessities to survive in the United States. “When you come over, it’s very hard,” Zaki. “You don’t know [the] language, you don’t know rules, you don’t know anything, you don’t have money, don’t have a place [to live], you very much don’t have anything.” Zaki found work as a paramedic. Reflecting on the generosity and hospitality his family received, he felt the call to serve in the U.S. Military. In his words, “to pay back the debt,” he felt he owed the United States. “I felt like I need to pay back something,” he said. “I thought wearing the uniform and serving the United States Air Force would be the little I can pay back to the country who helped me, supported me in every step and allowing me to come here.” His unit is inspired by his story but even more by his character. “Most of us, who lived here all of our lives [who wear the uniform], take on this mantel of service,” said Lt. Col. Jameson Durham, 908 AES interim commander. “Zaki takes it to the next level. You can sense it in his being; he sees it as his honor and privilege to serve the country that has given him the opportunity to do something different than from where he was from.” Zaki’s strong character is a sentiment shared by others who also work with him. “He motivates me sometimes more than I motivate him,” said Zaki’s supervisor, Staff Sgt. Weston Salter, 908 AES aeromedical evacuation technician. “He’s a very hard worker and very proactive. He wants to grow his career and help others.” Zaki received his citizenship on Nov. 15, 2022, a day he and his family will remember forever. It was also very special day for everyone in attendance, especially Zaki’s commander. “My wife is from Costa Rica,” Durham said. “Just knowing all she went through to become a citizen, it is an honor to have an Airman willing to go through that to serve. I was honored he invited me to his swearing-in.”To other immigrants who call the United States home, Zaki has some advice: “This is the land of opportunity. Put that in your mind and find help if you need it. You have the chance to accomplish so much; just push yourself to do it.” (Originally published by the US Air Force online. Click this link to read the original story.)
Survivors of Israel’s attack on USS Liberty to hold Memorial June 6 – 9, 2022
Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year Survivors of the brutal Israeli attack on the U.S.S. Liberty communications ship that took place on June 8, 1967 and took the lives of 34 sailors and injured 173 will gather in Arlington Virginia June 6 – 9, 2022 to commemorate the assault which has never been fully addressed by the U.S. Military. The survivors will also join “The Ray Hanania Radio Show” May 25, 2022 to discuss the attack. The radio show podcast can be found at ArabNews.com/rayradioshow. (To read this story in Arabic, click here.) Click to read Arab News radio interview with Liberty Survivors from May 25, 2022 Survivors and of the brutal Israeli military attack against the American communications vessel U.S.S. Liberty will gather at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. on June 6 to commemorate the memories of 34 Americans who were killed and host a 55 year reunion at the Holiday Inn Arlington, Virginia on June 8. While patrolling in international waters in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the USS Liberty (AGTR-5) was savagely attacked without warning or justification by air and naval forces of the State of Israel. Of a crew of 294 officers and men, including three civilians, 34 crew members were killed in action and 173 were wounded. Survivors of the attack insist that the attack was unjustified and that the Israelis knew the ship was American, but the attack has been covered up and the survivors have been abandoned by the U.S. Military which has sought to brush the tragedy out of history. Survivor Joe Meadors said the Israeli attack was unprovoked and that the Liberty was clearly identified as an American vessel flying the American flag. He said the U.S. response was to abandon the American soldiers during the attack and to disparage survivors and their claims rather than stand with them. “In 1967, LBJ ordered the USS Liberty to be abandoned by Sixth Fleet aircraft while we were still under attack and calling for help. That order cost the lives of 25 of our shipmates,” Meadors said. “The order to abandon us is being obeyed until this day with a devastating effect on USS Liberty survivors.” Survivors have demanded a full and open investigation that has been rejected by every commander, president and the Congress. “The Department of Defense has ignored its obligation under its own Law of War Program. Members of Congress have refused to include facts from USS Liberty survivors in their boilerplate responses,” Meadors said, noting the United States has officially abandoned the American veterans who were killed and the survivors. “No Member of Congress has ever attended our annual memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery on the anniversary of the attack. We are condemned as ‘anti-Semitic’ and ‘bigots’ simply because we have been asking that the attack on the U. S. S. Liberty be treated the same as every other attack on a US Navy ship since the end of WWII. All we have is ourselves. Not Congress. Not the Navy. Not the DoD. Just ourselves. We need a place where we are welcome. We need our reunions.” Survivor Ron Kukal, a First Class Communications Technician and section supervisor, said the survivors have always hoped that one day the U.S. would acknowledge the true facts of the attack instead of marginalizing and covering up the attack. “From day one I have always felt that the LVA holding together might just someday save this whole nation from itself, for your family and mine,” Kukal said. “After all that is what the Liberty Veterans Association is all about, and that would be the truth.” Kukal said that the Liberty survivors have been disparaged, insulted and denounced by pro-Israel activists and abandoned by the U.S. Military. “How is it possible that considering three fourths of the crew had a Top Secret Clearance, we would all gather together after the attack, and suddenly become racist?” Kukal asked. “Do you know what it took to get that clearance? Well, one of things you had better not be, was a racist. Need I say more? They would have known if any of us were, and we would not have gotten that clearance. I think they knew my grandmother’s address in Prague, before she came here. Now that is thorough.” Survivor Moe Shafer said that despite the effort to bury the incident in history by Israel and the Department of Defense and the U.S. Congress, the memory of the attack against the Liberty and its shipmates continues. “The Liberty is about fellowship with each other and honoring our fellow shipmates and most importantly honoring our fallen shipmates,” Shafer said. “Spending an afternoon together at Arlington National Cemetery for our memorial service. The greatest honor is to be with those who we have grown to love over the last 55 years!! We urge other Americans to come and join us on June 6 at Arlington National Cemetery and demand that attack be fully investigated and exposed.” Survivor Phil Tourney said that the patriots who served on the U.S.S. Liberty are demanding just and believe that true patriots will support them in getting the truth out. “We are depending on the truth facts from patriots like you. Thank you, my young college friend, facts matter. We have been in this fight for our murdered shipmates most of our lives,” Tourney said. “Survivors have been wounded and scarred forever by the treason from our own government. They wanted us on the bottom for political gain for Israel and the USA, period.” Tourney said that he is shocked that after serving in the military honorably and with patriotism that he and others have been attacked for seeking the truth of the incident and justice for the survivors. “Thus, the best held secret in American history by the Congress, turned their cheek at treason then and now. How deep does it go?” Tourney asked saying the tragedy has placed a heavy burden on all […]
Arabs of Chicagoland book details Arabs in the U.S. military
Arabs of Chicagoland book details Arabs in the U.S. military Arabs first settled in Chicagoland in the mid-19th century, when immigrants from all parts of the world were flowing steadily into the U.S. As tensions in the Arab world flared, immigration increased—the first to arrive were Lebanese Christians, followed by Muslim Palestinians. Today, there are more than 250,000 Arabs in the Chicago area, with equal numbers of Christians and Muslims. A part of the fabric of Chicago, Arabs serve in many roles, from business leaders to elected officials to judges, doctors, engineers, journalists, and more. In the wake of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Arab Americans have come under great scrutiny and have suffered much misunderstanding. Now, this book, which explores their integral role in Chicagoland’s growth, is especially important. ISBN: 9780738534176 FORMAT: Paperback PUBLISHER: Arcadia Publishing DATE: 8/17/2005 STATE: Illinois SERIES: Images of America IMAGES: 200 PAGES: 128 DIMENSIONS: 6.5 (w) x 9.25 (h) Author Ray Hanania is an award-winning Chicago journalist, author, and humorist. His writings on growing up Arab in America in the 1980s opened an important door to understanding. Hanania has archived Arab community history in writings and in photographs, many coming from his experience as publisher of two English-language Arab newspapers, the Middle Eastern Voice (1975–1977) and the Arab American View (1999–2002). For more information on Ray Hanania visit www.TheDailyHookah.com. Click here to get more information or to order this book.
American Arabs reflect on US military service
American Arabs reflect on US military service On Veterans Day on November 11, Americans of Mideast origin weigh in on military experience for their adopted country. Chicago, United States – As Americans commemorate the sacrifices of their military on Veterans Day on Wednesday, American-Arab soldiers say they deserve recognition from a nation that keeps them on the fringes. The United States does not maintain statistics on the achievements of American Arabs, nor does it profile them in the decennial census, which identifies and empowers many other ethnic and racial groups. So accurate data on how many American Arabs have and are serving is unavailable. A 1924 study by Princeton professor Philip Hitti found that 13,965 Arab Americans served during World War I. It is estimated as many as 15,000 served during World War II. Countless others served during the Korean conflict and Vietnam War – and most recently in the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many American Arab veterans say they feel ignored after honorably serving their adopted country during past wars. US Marine and translator Rajai Hakki, a Syrian American born in Pennsylvania and raised in Washington DC, wrote in a May 2011 column about the conflicts he faced as an American Arab serving in Iraq and Guantanamo. “I suddenly realized the misguided nature of our operations in the Middle East since September 11th. I felt horrible,” wrote Hakki. “It hit me like a bullet to the brain: our wars in the Middle East are horrific blunders and we must extract our forces from Iraq and Afghanistan.” But veterans of earlier conflicts not in the Middle East say while they opposed the Iraq war, they served with dedication. “At the time I enlisted, I felt that military service was something everyone had to do,” recalled Zyad Hasan, 49, a Palestinian American who served as a reconnaissance scout for a Bradley Tank battalion. “I didn’t see conflict but I proudly wore our uniform. Where I was stationed, I did not run into any other Arabs and being an Arab was never an issue when I served in the US military.” Hasan’s enlistment was inspired in part by the promise of citizenship and his father’s service in the Jordanian army when he was young. He was sworn in as a new citizen during his active duty service at San Antonio, Texas. Later, when he was stationed in Germany, a bomb killed two US servicemen and a Turkish woman at the La Belle Disco in West Berlin on April 5, 1986. The entire base was put on alert, Hasan recalled. “We saw it as terrorism and we were alert. But back then, no one looked at me and questioned my loyalty as an American,” Hasan told Al Jazeera. “I never felt discrimination.” Like many American Arabs who served in the US military, Hasan said he made it a point after the September 11 attacks, which took nearly 3,000 lives, to tell people he served in the armed forces. Vietnam veteran Kayed “Edward” Hassan, 69, said he enlisted during the height of the Vietnam War in 1967. “I didn’t feel any discrimination at all during my service, even after the Arab-Israeli wars and the politics of it all,” Hassan told Al Jazeera. “And with a name like Hassan, it’s not like you can hide from it. I didn’t. I was proud to be Arab and also proud to be American.” “The other soldiers always respected me as an Arab and as a Muslim,” Hassan said. “I was too busy being an American and an Arab to allow anyone to attack me.” Both men said the military always accommodated them as Muslims, replacing pork products with beef and chicken. Devon Akmon, director of the Arab American National Museum (AANM), told Al Jazeera the service of his Lebanese immigrant grandparents during World War II brought them together. “My grandmother was a bomb factory inspector based in Detroit. My grand-dad was on the European front. They were pen pals during the war via the Maronite church, which fostered this type of programme in an effort to keep servicemen’s morale up,” said Akmon, whose father also served in the Vietnam War. “When my grandfather returned from World War II, their relationship blossomed. For many folks of their time, from immigrant families, there was a sense of ‘this is our country – we are effectively making the ultimate sacrifice to be a part of this country’.” Ray Hanania served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. His brother was a US Marine and his father George and Uncle Moussa served during World War II, enlisting after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Originally published at AlJazeera English on Nov. 11, 2011. Click here for the original. column by Ray Hanania.
Why its important to document the service of Arab Americans
Why its important to document the service of Arab Americans By Ray Hanania Arab Americans are discriminated against in America. We are signed out for political discrimination, racial discrimination and societal discrimination. We are often portrayed as being unpatriotic and marginalized. We are excluded from the fundamental foundations of society and denied the privileges of being citizens of this country even though we are citizens. There have been members of the Arab American community who have served in the American military since before the American Civil War. We collect these stories that have been previously posted and that we have rights to republish, and we include original content submitted by relatives of veterans or veterans themselves. Arab Americans have served in defense of this country in World. War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the wars in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait and in the fight against the ISIS terrorists. We have fought proudly, and patriotically and yet our patriotism is often challenged and denied. We are Americans in every aspect, similar to individuals of other races, ethnicities and national origin, and yet we are denied basic fundamental rights that include, for example, our share of Federal Government program support. That support comes not only from having served in the military but also being included in the U.S. Census. Unfortunately, because of racism and xenophobia, Arab Americans are excluded from the U.S. Census and we are denied Federal program support. That support includes hundreds of millions of dollars that are divided up among other ethnic and racial groups including African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Native Americans and many, many more. In the posts, you will be able to read about the history and experiences of many of the Arab Americans who served in the various branches of the U.S. Military including the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marines, the U.S. Navy and in other branches including the reserve and national guard. We have held every rank from he lowers to the highest. We have won medals of honor and have been honorably discharged. Our bravery has been affirmed in records but never showcased because of the racism that exists in this society. One reason Arab Americans who have served in the military and who are veteran fight so hard to insist upon our recognition is to demonstrate that we are equal to everyone in this country. We deserve respect and we deserve recognition. And, we deserve to tell our individual stories. Don’t allow the racism that is fundamental to American society to prevent you from telling your story or the story or your relatives who served int he military. Whether you are now active duty or have served in active duty, or in the reserves or the national guard, you have a right and even an obligation to share that story not only for yourself but for your community and to also make America a stronger and more righteous nation. We support America’s freedoms and we have sacrificed our lives to defend that freedom. We fought the Nazis in Europe and the Japanese in the Pacific. We defended American interests in the Middle East where our ancestors originate doing so knowing that we are helping to preserve human rights in the Arab World. We are Christian and we are Muslim. And we come from 22 Arab countries including Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Yemen, Algeria and more. If you served in the U.S. Military or if your relatives served in the U.S. Military, make sure to submit your story or your relative’s stories and photos so we can share them here. Email them to [email protected]. Don;t let the fundamental racist hatred that plagues American prevent you from helping to eradicate that racism and make American a better country’s he country of freedom and human rights that it strives to be. (Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter who served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War with honor and distinction. Hanania is currently a columnist and correspondent for several American and Middle East newspapers. Visit www.Hanania.com for information on his writings, his radio shows and his podcasts.)

Air Force SA Yosry Zaki, Egyptian-born, American-proud
Air Force SA Yosry Zaki, Egyptian-born, American-proud By Senior Airman Austin Jackson 908th Airlift Wing Public Affiars/Published May 12, 2023 MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS) — When an Airman raises their right hand to serve in the United States military, they join for various reasons. For some, it is a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream; for others, it may be to develop their leadership and education. All Airmen sacrifice to serve, but not many travel halfway around the world to put service before self like Senior Airman Yosry Zaki, a flight services technician in the 908th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. His journey to the U.S. Air Force Reserve began nearly 20 years ago in the small village of Umm Al Qusur, Egypt. About 900 miles from Cairo, Zaki’s village wasn’t exactly a destination spot for many tourists, so he wasn’t overly exposed to other cultures. However, Zaki’s love for America was nurtured through television. “I used to watch ‘Friends’ and I love ‘Die Hard’ the movie,” Zaki said. “I thought, ‘why can’t I live this way?’” While others may have viewed these programs for their entertainment value, Zaki saw the comedy, politics and action as a taste of freedom. So, the inspired teenager began applying to the Diversity Immigration Visa Program. Administered by the U.S. Department of State, the program selects recipients from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. For years, Zaki’s application wasn’t selected. “I applied every year since I was 18,” he said. “I did not hear back, so I applied the following year.” Zaki often wondered if his American dream would ever become a reality. But he persisted in his efforts and continued to provide for his family while obtaining degrees in accounting, computer science and education, a work ethic that, for him, was normal. “In Egypt, it is normal to have multiple jobs,” he added. “So, I worked as a teacher during the day, then a pharmacy technician at night.” One day, nearly 12 years later, his pharmacy technician business partner knocked at his door with a letter from the Diversity Visa Program. “He said, ‘You’re going to America!’” Zaki recounted. “And I thought, ‘Oh wow! My dream is finally coming true!’” Zaki soon realized that his dream would be a bittersweet experience for the rest of his family. In traditional Egyptian culture, the oldest son is the family’s rock. Being the oldest child means looking after aging parents and handling all family business matters. “You are like the support [for the family],” he said. “It is like they lost their support.” In December 2015, Zaki moved to Niceville, Florida, with his pregnant wife and young daughter. There they would be received by a family friend who helped them get the necessities to survive in the United States. “When you come over, it’s very hard,” Zaki. “You don’t know [the] language, you don’t know rules, you don’t know anything, you don’t have money, don’t have a place [to live], you very much don’t have anything.” Zaki found work as a paramedic. Reflecting on the generosity and hospitality his family received, he felt the call to serve in the U.S. Military. In his words, “to pay back the debt,” he felt he owed the United States. “I felt like I need to pay back something,” he said. “I thought wearing the uniform and serving the United States Air Force would be the little I can pay back to the country who helped me, supported me in every step and allowing me to come here.” His unit is inspired by his story but even more by his character. “Most of us, who lived here all of our lives [who wear the uniform], take on this mantel of service,” said Lt. Col. Jameson Durham, 908 AES interim commander. “Zaki takes it to the next level. You can sense it in his being; he sees it as his honor and privilege to serve the country that has given him the opportunity to do something different than from where he was from.” Zaki’s strong character is a sentiment shared by others who also work with him. “He motivates me sometimes more than I motivate him,” said Zaki’s supervisor, Staff Sgt. Weston Salter, 908 AES aeromedical evacuation technician. “He’s a very hard worker and very proactive. He wants to grow his career and help others.” Zaki received his citizenship on Nov. 15, 2022, a day he and his family will remember forever. It was also very special day for everyone in attendance, especially Zaki’s commander. “My wife is from Costa Rica,” Durham said. “Just knowing all she went through to become a citizen, it is an honor to have an Airman willing to go through that to serve. I was honored he invited me to his swearing-in.”To other immigrants who call the United States home, Zaki has some advice: “This is the land of opportunity. Put that in your mind and find help if you need it. You have the chance to accomplish so much; just push yourself to do it.” (Originally published by the US Air Force online. Click this link to read the original story.)
George John Hanania, US 5th Army WWII OSS
George John Hanania, US 5th Army WWII OSS George John Hanania was born in Jerusalem on Nov. 11, 1901. He was one of the first Arab Americans to immigrate and settle in Chicago, in the mid-1920s. He followed his brother, Mousa (Moses) who had settled in Chicago around 1922. His father, Hanna Mousa (John Moses) Hanania, lived in the Romema Quarter of Old Jerusalem on Jaffa Road. Hanna Mousa worked as a traveling salesman and sold goods at the Centennial Celebration in New York and at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Most of his recent trips, though, were to Cairo, Egypt. His wife was Katreena Jyries Cattan. George had five brothers, two older brothers, Yusef (Joseph) and Mousa (Moses), and three younger brothers, Khamis, Farid and Edward. He had two sisters, Ellen and Helen. The family was related to Jyries Hanania, the founder of Al-Quds newspaper in the mid-19th Century and to Judge Hanania Hanania, a Palestinian Magistrate in Jerusalem. George obtained a typical education as a Palestinian Arab. He attended the Ratisbon’s School (1912-1914), and then the American Mission School (1915-1917). He also attended Eccles des Freres and then St. George High schools (1914-1920). He entered college in 1923 attending the Palestine Patriarchal University (1923-1926) where he began his studies of law. Because of the influence of the British and their control of Palestine through a “Mandate,” the English language was taught as a second language to nearly all Palestinian Arabs. French was the second most popular language taught in schools supported by Christian missions from the West. Yusef and George worked at the Jerusalem Post Office. George was a Postal Clerk Grade V Posts and Telegraphs, employed from June 23, 1920 until August 31, 1926. If his birth certificate is correct (being born in 1901) George would have been 18 years old when he started at the British Government Postal Service. Yusef was able to secure a fulltime position working in the Jerusalem Post Office, and he was able to help his brother George obtain part-time work there, too. There is correspondence between George and the Director of the Government of Palestine in charge of various employment positions indicating efforts were made to secure jobs for other members of the family, but to no avail. Four specific events, most dealing with the poor employment conditions in Palestine in the mid-1920s, influenced the decision by George Hanania to leave Palestine and immigrate to the United States. George’s brother Yusef drowned at the Jerusalem Quarry in April 1926, at a time when Arab and Jewish relations were simmering politically. Jewish, Muslim and Christian by-standers hearing Yusef’s cries for help did not respond. Jews thought he was Muslim. Muslims thought he was Jewish. Christians thought he was not Christian. The event typified the growing animosity that existed in Palestine between Arabs and Jews who had conflicting interests there. Deteriorating relations between Jews and Arabs culminated in riots in 1929 and again in 1936 when Arabs protested British policies favoring large immigration quotas for European Jews. George’s older brother, Mousa, had already left Palestine to come to the United States several years earlier. Mousa found full time work as a cook in a suburb of Chicago at the Rolling Green Country Club, located in Arlington Heights. A short newspaper article published at the time reported that the country club had been robbed and that a significant amount of money had been taken from the employees, including Mousa, who lost some $800, a sizeable amount of money back then indicating that he was doing very well financially. After Yusef’s death, George and his siblings found it difficult to obtain work. George, who was working part-time, tried to find another position with the British Mandate government for himself and for his sister, Ellen. Applications he had submitted to the Department of Health were turned down. His sister, Ellen, also tried and failed to find work. Finally, George discovered that the British Mandate Government supervisors at the Jerusalem Post Office did not encourage his efforts to complete his education and they either refused or could not accommodate his need for a change in working hours. A request he made to alter his hours or receive permission to be absent from work specifically to attend Law College classes was turned down by his supervisor at the Post Office. George decided to join his brother, Mousa, in the New World, America, “the land of the free.” He was given a Laisser Passer document that permitted his immigration to the United States. It was his only document that identified him as a Palestinian. George arrived in New York City on October 4, 1926, arriving on board the S.S. Sinaea passenger ship, under the raised arm of the Statue of Liberty. He always recalled it as an inspiring site. He quickly took a train and arrived in Chicago’s Union Station where he was met by his brother. The month long trip was trying and expensive, requiring him to spend much of his savings earned working in Jerusalem. Aboard the ship were many other immigrants, Arabs and Jews. While in the United States, between 1926 and 1929, George worked at the Fenske Brothers Center (on North Clybourne), the Astor Street Theater and the LaSalle Street Theater. Eventually, he secured a decent paying job at the Rolling Green Country Club, in Arlington Heights, where he worked with his brother, Mousa. They worked together from 1930 through 1940. In 1934, George was granted naturalization and awarded his US citizenship. Sometime after World War II broke out with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, both he and his brother enlisted in military service. George had just started a job as an accountant at the Sinclair Oil Company in early 1941 and the company was supportive of employees who left their jobs to serve in the military. Mousa entered the US Navy. George entered the US 5th Army, and was assigned to the Office of Strategic …
New Jersey Syrians who served during World War II
New Jersey Syrians who served during World War II The North Jersey News in Patterson published a wonderful story about Syrian Americans who’s served in the U.S. Military during World War II. Syrian American veterans from Paterson, NJ, who served and lost their lives in World War II, including John Raad, for whom an American Legion Post was named. For this story, I captured some of the history and setting for the Syrian community at the time. Please read and share. Click here for the link.
George Ezzat Mohammed
George Ezzat Mohammed George Ezzat Mohammed is an Army Veteran, he served in a small town in Germany called Neu-Ulm from 1954-1956. His rank was Private First Class. Mohammed was assigned to the Artillery Regiment during the occupation of Germany after World War II. He mostly patrolled the Czechoslovakian border. Mohammed was also a Sharpshooter and received a Good Conduct Medal. Mohammed was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1932, his parents were both born in Palestine. His Father was born in Ein-Arik, Palestine and emigrated to America in 1914. His mother was born in Beitunia, Palestine and emigrated to the United States in 1930.
James Jabara, U.S. Air Force, WW II
James Jabara, U.S. Air Force, WW II James “Jabby” Jabara (10 October 1923 – 17 November 1966) was the first American and United States Air Force jet ace in history. Born in Oklahoma, he lived in Kansas where he enlisted as an aviation cadet at Fort Riley after graduating from high school. Jabara attended four flying schools in Texas before he received his pilot’s wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Jabara flew two tours of combat duty in Europe during World War II as a North American P-51 Mustang pilot, and scored 1.5 air victories against German aircraft. Jabara flew his first jet aircraft in 1948, the USAF Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star before transitioning to the USAF North American F-86 Sabre. Jabara used this aircraft to shoot down multiple Soviet-built MiG-15 jets during the Korean War. He achieved his first confirmed air victory of the war on 3 April 1951. A month later he scored his fifth and sixth victories, making him the first American jet ace in history. He eventually scored 15 victories, giving him the title of “triple ace”. Jabara was ranked as the second-highest-scoring U.S. ace of the Korean War. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and the British Distinguished Flying Cross for his accomplishments in combat. Jabara next held a series of commands at various Air Force bases across the United States. He flew the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and later the Convair B-58 Hustler. In 1966, while on leave from service in Vietnam, Colonel Jabara was traveling with his family in two cars to their new home when his daughter crashed the car she was driving and he was riding in, killing them both. They were buried together at Arlington National Cemetery. In recognition of his contributions to military aviation, an airport outside of Wichita, Kansas was named in his honor. Each year the United States Air Force Academy alumni association bestows the Jabara Award upon an Academy graduate whose aerospace accomplishments demonstrate superior performance. Jabara was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, of Lebanese descent; his father, John, and mother came from Marjayoun, a town in Southern Lebanon. Jabara joined the Boy Scouts, eventually becoming an Eagle Scout. At an early age, he was set on becoming a pilot, “I used to read articles about [Eddie] Rickenbacker and all these novels you read about air combat, and I guess from the sixth grade it was my ambition to be a fighter pilot.” He worked at his parents’ grocery store and graduated from Wichita North High School in Wichita, Kansas in May 1942. Standing five feet, five inches (165 cm) tall, Jabara was short for a potential fighter pilot (and was reportedly required to wear corrective eyewear), but this did not prevent him from immediately enlisting as an aviation cadet of the United States Army Air Corps at Fort Riley, Kansas. In an attempt to improve his eyesight for flying, he ate 20 carrots a day in the mistaken belief that this would improve his vision. After attending four flying schools in Texas, he received his pilot’s wings and a commission as second lieutenant at Moore Field, Texas in October 1943. Jabara with his wife, Nina, had four children: James William (b. 1949), Carol Ann (b. 1950), Cathy (b. 1952), and Jeanne (b. 1957) Bio courtesy of Wikipedia
Muna Nur, Arab medic, U.S. Army
Arab medic spends her career mending fellow Soldiers, preconceptions (Profile published by the U,.S. Army. By Sgt. Ken Scar) PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Sept. 13, 2012) — Staff Sgt. Muna Nur leaves a lasting impression on those who meet her. Born in Somalia, her feisty attitude is a testament to her six-year military career that includes two tough deployments to Iraq and a third, current one to Afghanistan, where she is the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Troop Medical Clinic, 10th Sustainment Brigade, Task Force Muleskinner. “I was born in Somalia, so I’m a child of war, I guess,” she said. “When I was 2 months old, because of the war, my mom moved us to Kenya until I was 5, and then to America, where we finally settled in Minnesota. I consider myself an American, even though I wasn’t born there.” On a typical shift in the walk-in clinic on Bagram Airfield that she manages when she’s not on missions outside the wire, she can be seen ribbing her medics good-naturedly like a stern mother. “I run a tight ship,” she said, furrowing her brow toward everyone in the waiting area to light-hearted laughter. Nur has worked her way to a position that suits her well, but things have not always run so smoothly for her. She is a proud Muslim, a trait that has created difficulties for her in the past — especially after 9/11. “9/11 created such an awkward position for my family,” she said. “My mom is not totally religious, but she wears the scarves over her head, and she is very fair-skinned, so she looks Arab. I just remember all the comments.” She trails off, hesitant to get too specific and dredge up old wounds. “I said to myself, ‘Do I want people to think my family is full of terrorists?,” she recalled. “Do I want people to view my religion like we’re all terrorists?’ I wanted to fight back, so that’s one of the main reasons I joined (the Army).” The decision to become a medic was a simpler one: “I wanted to help people.” Being female and a Muslim could have been a double-whammy for someone joining the Army, whose population is historically composed mostly of men and Soldiers who believe in some form of Christianity, but the discrimination she experienced in the civilian world was much worse than what she has experienced as a Soldier. She credits the Army’s emphasis on cultural training for that. “I think the majority of Soldiers are trained to differentiate between terrorists and what Islam is,” she said. That’s not to say she has never heard inconsiderate comments, but as a medic who is often the only female out on a mission, she knows how to brush off the harsh words and posturing of some her less-sensitive colleagues. “My first tour of Iraq was very difficult for me,” she said. “Treating Soldiers who just got hit, I heard the backlash, but now I don’t take it as an attack against Muslims in general — or me. I take it as an attack against terrorists.” Dealing with traditional Afghan prejudices is another thing she has learned to deal with gracefully. “Most (Afghans) are illiterate,” she explained. “They don’t read the Quran. It’s taught to them. So for me, as a Muslim woman who reads the Quran and has my own interpretation, it can be a battle.” “You have to have a thick skin,” she added, smiling. “You have to know what right looks like and be tolerant. You can’t go around telling people their religion is wrong or they believe in false prophets. How would you feel if I condemned you to hell because you’re not a Muslim? I don’t believe in that.” “More than anything, she educates us,” explained Air Force Senior Airman Natasha Whitten, one of Nur’s medics. “Like when the Qurans were burned (in February), she let us know why people were so upset and what would have been (the proper thing to do).” As far as being a female in a war zone, Nur marvels at the fact there is any debate at all that she or any of her female comrades belong in combat. Every medic in her unit rotates from working in the clinic to rolling with combat logistical patrols that travel to smaller combat outposts and bases all over Regional Command-East on the most dangerous roadways in theater. Out of the 42 medics for whom she is responsible, 10 of them are female. “If we took all our females off the road, the missions wouldn’t happen,” she said. She personally goes on an average of three missions per month, so she will likely rack up nearly 50 missions outside the wire on her current deployment. “She is dedicated to what she does,” said Sgt. Maj. Janice Glaze, operations sergeant major for Task Force Muleskinner. “She really has concern for Soldiers, and I would speak to her courage. As a medic, she treats the Soldiers (who) encounter improvised explosive devices. She sees the wounds, so she knows what can happen when you go outside that wire — and yet she is never hesitant to go on those missions.” “Once you’re outside the wire, anything can happen,” Nur said. “I want the world to know that my medics go out there and have to be combat Soldiers, whether they’re male or female.” “When you go out (on the convoys), there’s no separation. We all sleep in the same tents, or the same trucks,” she said.” “We are already in combat,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Anahi Pelayo, also one of Nur’s medics, referring to the debate over whether women should be in combat positions. “We (female medics) are not necessarily behind the weapons, but we take care of everyone else (who) is.” “I love the action, and I love being out. But I always say that I like to stay unemployed on missions,” Nur said.
Philip “Hi Jolly” Tedro (Tadros), U.S. Civil War
Philip “Hi Jolly” Tadros, U.S. Civil War Hi Jolly or Hadji Ali (Arabic: حاج علي‎, translit. Ḥājj ʿAlī; Turkish: Hacı Ali), later known as Philip Tedro (born ‘Ali al-Hajaya c. 1828 – December 16, 1902), was an Ottoman subject of Syrian and Greek parentage,[1] and in 1856 became one of the first camel drivers ever hired by the US Army to lead the camel driver experiment in the Southwest. Hi Jolly became a living legend until his death in Arizona. Once, insulted because he had not been invited to a German picnic in Los Angeles, he broke up the gathering by driving into it on a yellow cart pulled by two of his pet camels. He was born as Philip Tedro in Smyrna around 1828, to a Greek mother and a Syrian father who was a Christian Arab. As a young adult, he converted to Islam. After going to Mecca to perform the hajj (pilgrimage), he called himself Hadji Ali. He reverted to Philip Tedro in later life. An Ottoman Turkish citizen of Greater Syria, Hadji Ali worked as a camel breeder and trainer. He served with the French Army in Algiers before signing on as a camel driver for the US Army in 1856. Ali was one of several men hired by the United States Army to introduce camels as beasts of burden to transport cargo across the “Great American Desert.” Eight of the men – including Ali – were of Greek origin. They arrived at the Port of Indianola in Calhoun County, Texas on the USS Supply. The book Go West Greek George by Steven Dean Pastis, published in both Greek and English, specifically identifies all eight men. These pioneers were Yiorgos Caralambo (later known as Greek George), Hadji Ali (Hi Jolly, a.k.a. Philip Tedro), Mimico Teodora (Mico), Hadjiatis Yannaco (Long Tom), Anastasio Coralli (Short Tom), Michelo Georgios, Yanni Iliato, and Giorgios Costi. The Americans acquired three camels in Tunis, nine in Egypt and 21 in Smyrna: 33 in all. Ali was the lead camel driver during the US Army’s experiment with the U.S. Camel Corps in using camels in the dry deserts of the Southwest. After successfully traveling round trip from Texas to California, the experiment failed, partly due to the problem that the Army’s burros, horses, and mules feared the large animals, often panicking, and the tensions of the American Civil War led to Congress not approving more funds for the Corps. In 1864, the camels were finally auctioned off in Benicia, California, and Camp Verde, Texas. Ali was discharged from the Quartermaster Department of the U.S. Army at Camp McDowell in 1870. He next ran a freight service between the Colorado River and the mining establishments further east, using the few camels he had purchased. His business was unsuccessful, however, and he released his camels into the desert near Gila Bend. He became an American citizen in 1880, and he used his birth name of Philip Tedro (sometimes spelled Teadrow) when he married Gertrudis Serna in Tucson, Arizona. They had two children. In 1885, Ali was again hired by the U.S. Army in Arizona, and worked with pack mules for Brig. Gen. George Crook during the Geronimo campaign. In his final years, Ali moved to Quartzsite, Arizona, where he mined and occasionally scouted for the US government. He died in 1902 and was buried in the Quartzsite Cemetery. In 1935, Arizona Governor Benjamin Moeur dedicated a monument to Hadji Ali and the Camel Corps in the Quartzsite Cemetery. The monument, located at his gravesite, is a pyramid built from local stones and topped with a copper camel. The monument is the most visited location in Quartzsite. The plaque on the monument reads: THE LAST CAMP OF HI JOLLY BORN SOMEWHERE IN SYRIA ABOUT 1828 DIED AT QUARTZITE DECEMBER 16, 1902 CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FEBRUARY 10, 1856 CAMELDRIVER – PACKER SCOUT – OVER THIRTY YEARS A FAITHFUL AID TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ARIZONA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT 1935 (Bio courtesy of Wikipedia)
John Abizaid, General CENTCOM Commander
John Abizaid, General CENTCOM Commander John Philip Abizaid (born April 1, 1951) is a retired United States Army general and former U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander, overseeing American military operations in a 27-country region, from the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, to South and Central Asia, covering much of the Middle East. CENTCOM oversees 250,000 US troops. Abizaid succeeded General Tommy Franks as Commander, USCENTCOM, on July 7, 2003, and was also elevated to the rank of four-star general the same week. He was succeeded by Admiral William J. Fallon on March 16, 2007. Abizaid retired from the military on May 1, 2007 after 34 years of service. As of 2007, Abizaid is employed as a fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He assumed the Distinguished Chair of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point in December 2007. Abizaid was appointed to the board of directors of RPM International on January 24, 2008, and also sits on the board of directors of the Defense Ventures Group. In 2008 he was selected as a Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth College. On November 13, 2018, he was nominated as the U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. A Lebanese American, Abizaid was born in northern California in 1951, and raised in Coleville, California. Abizaid was a 1969 graduate of Coleville High School. His grandparents had immigrated to California from Lebanon during the late 19th century. He was raised Roman Catholic. His father, a Navy machinist in World War II, raised him after Abizaid’s mother died of cancer. Abizaid’s military education includes the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York (Class of 1973); Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Armed Forces Staff College, and a U.S. Army War College Senior Fellowship at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. In his civilian studies, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, and was an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan. Abizaid greatly impressed his teachers at Harvard University. Nadav Safran, the director of the Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies kept Abizaid’s 100-page paper on defense policy for Saudi Arabia, the only paper of a master’s student he has kept, saying, “It was absolutely the best seminar paper I ever got in my 30-plus years at Harvard. Abizaid was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, Class of June 1973. He started his career with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as a rifle and scout platoon leader. He commanded companies in the 2nd and 1st Ranger Battalions, leading a Ranger Rifle Company during the invasion of Grenada. In 1983, he jumped from an MC-130 onto a landing strip in Grenada and ordered one of his Rangers to drive a bulldozer like a tank toward Cuban troops as he advanced behind it—a move highlighted in the 1986 Clint Eastwood film, Heartbreak Ridge. Abizaid commanded the 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Regiment Comba Team in Vicenza, Italy, during the Persian Gulf War and deployed with the battalion in Northern Iraq to provide a safe haven for the Kurds. His brigade command was the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. He served as the Assistant Division Commander, 1st Armored Division, in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Following that tour, he served as the 66th Commandant at the United States Military Academy at West Point. At West Point, he reined in hazing rituals and revamped the curriculum. Later, he took command of the 1st Infantry Division, the “Big Red One,” in Würzburg, Germany, from David L. Grange, which provided the first U.S. ground forces into Kosovo. He served as the Deputy Commander (Forward), Combined Forces Command, U.S. Central Command during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff assignments include a tour with the United Nations as Operations Officer (G-3) for Observer Group Lebanon and a tour in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. European staff tours include assignments in both the Southern European Task Force and Headquarters, U.S. Army Europe. Abizaid also served as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) on the Joint Staff and Director of the Joint Staff. Following the Iraq War and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, he assumed command of Central Command from General Tommy Franks. On December 20, 2006, it was announced that Abizaid would step down from his position and retire in March 2007. He had planned to retire earlier but stayed at the urging of Donald Rumsfeld. On March 16, 2007, Abizaid transferred command to Admiral William J. Fallon, after serving longer as Commander, U.S. Central Command than any of his predecessors. On September 8, 2016, Abizaid was appointed an advisor to Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. (Bio courtesy of Wikipedia)
Ray Hanania US Air Force
Ray Hanania US Air Force Active Duty Vietnam Era Service, 1973-1975 Illinois Air National Guard, March 1975 through 1986 I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in May of 1972, a deferred enlistment that began in October 1973 with basic training at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas. I was in my sophomore year in Pre-Med at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. My draft number was low, I believe 62, and I was expecting to be called. So I decided to enlist to control the branch of service and career choices I would have. Basic Training was about six weeks at Lackland Air Force Base. I was assigned to the 3711 Military Unit. I made many friends. I also was forced to stop smoking during Basic Training, which was beneficial. I started smoking cigarettes when I was 12 years old, smoking Camel filterless cigarettes, about a half pack every day. When I completed Basic Training, I decided not to return to smoking. I remember my two unit Master Sergeants, Drill Instructors, interviewed me on my first day, asking me questions about my college experience. They were interviewing for “ropes,” trainees who would serve as unit leaders. The Red rope was the highest rank followed by the Yellow and Green Ropes. They wanted to make me a Red rope, but I wasn’t very disciplined, despite having complete two years of college. Most of the people in my unit had either been drafted or enlisted and did not have college training. The Red rope went to a recruit whose parents were from South Korea. Both of my Drill Sergeants have served during the Korean War or in Korea so they felt that was an obligation or duty. Basic training woke me up from my juvenile slumber. I was not doing well in college and had no focus or regiment. The military changed that. I entered medical and dental training after Basic Training and was reassigned to Sheppard Air Force Base, near Wichita Falls, Texas. My friends in service included Michael Charter and Mitchel Pelter. Charter and I would often go to a bad in Wichita Falls call “Little Egypt” where we would drink and watch the dancers. Dental School lasted about 8 months. After graduation, we applied for assignments. I applied for assignments in Illinois, Florida and Indiana. They sent me to Mountain Home Air Force Base in Mountain Home, Idaho, in the Idaho desert about 50 minutes south of Boise. I had married and lived in a trailer home outside of the base driving in every morning. My commander at Mountain Home Air Force Base was Master Sergeant Benton. It was an F-111 base, fighter jets that used terrain-following radar and wings that spread out automatically or streamed back for supersonic flights. I remember the big movies at the time were Blazing Saddles, the Exorcist and Jesus Christ Super Star when I was at Sheppard AFB. And the Godfather when I was at Mountain Home AFB. In March 1975, as the Vietnam War official wound down, I was offered the opportunity to trade in my remaining 2 years of active duty service — I had enlisted and signed up for four years of service — for four years of service in the Illinois Air National Guard, assigned to Peoria, Illinois at the 182nd Air Force Base there. I worked in the dental clinic and medical clinic there (giving shots, and assisting the nurses) and would drive there one weekend every month and two weeks every year usually staying at an Air Force Base near Dallas, Texas.

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