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Compiled By: Kerry Fletcher

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Memorial Day: "Good Muslims, Great Americans"

From Kyle Gassiott | 07:11

A story about Muslims in the American military-including a WWII vet who lobbied the government to designate Islam on military dogtags.

Igramheadshot_small Cedar Rapids is the home of one of the first Islamic communities in the United States and the country's oldest mosque founded in 1932. Producer Kyle Gassiott (Gasset) introduces us to three soldiers from this community one of whom helped make it possible for Muslim soldiers who are killed in battle to be buried according to Islamic tradition. Abdullah Igram was a WWII vet who lobbied the Eisenhower administration in 1953 so that Muslims could designate their religion on their dogtags. (Excerpt of historical speech by Eisenhower included) Another Muslim Soldier Tarik Beloach was stationed in a remote part of Afghanistan in 2005. He forged a bond with the Afghan soldiers he was responsible for training by organizing prayer services during Ramidan. A third soldier from Cedar Rapids Aaron Robinson converted to Islam in 2002. He was sent to Iraq for eight months and now wants out of the Army. He doesn't want to fight other Muslims. (NOTE: Shorter version available as "An "I" for Islam")