American Muslims in the U.S. Military

December 11, 2002

Source: American Forces Press Service

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2002/n12112002_200212115.html

On December 11, 2002 the American Forces Press Service reported that "Muhammad, whose real name is withheld for security reasons, is one of an estimated 15,000 Muslims in the U.S. military. He was on his way to a meeting at a nearby office complex when he heard news of the terrorist attack. His first thought was to call his mother back home in the Midwest. The captain and his family worried about a backlash against Muslims in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Muhammad said he had not previously experienced any kind of bias or racism, but he and his family heard about a Sikh who was shot in Arizona and news of other attacks. Muhammad, who enlisted in the military 13 years ago, said his religion was not represented in the military's chaplain's corps back then. 'Today, to see that the services have imams is really amazing,' he said. "