Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan
United States Army portrait
Born(1987-02-12)February 12, 1987
Neptune, New Jersey, United States
DiedAugust 6, 2007(2007-08-06) (aged 20)
Baqubah, Diyala Governorate, Iraq
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia
(full military honors)
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Service branch United States Army
Years of service2005–2007
Rank Corporal
Unit1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
Battles/warsIraq War †
Awards

Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan (February 12, 1987 – August 6, 2007) was a United States Army specialist who was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.[1] He is a recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service,[1] and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[1][2]

Khan was born in Neptune, New Jersey to Trinidad and Tobago-born parents, Feroze Khan and Elsheba Khan of Indian descent. He was a 2005 graduate from Southern Regional High School in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township, New Jersey. He enlisted in the U.S. Army following his graduation and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), based in Fort Lewis, Washington. According to the Gannett News Service, he was "spurred by the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center [and] wanted to show that not all Muslims were fanatics and that many, like him, were willing to lay their lives down for their country, America. He enlisted immediately after graduation and was sent to Iraq in July 2006."[2] Khan and three other soldiers were killed when a bomb exploded while they were clearing a house—he was 20 years old. He was promoted posthumously to the rank of corporal.

His service was cited during an October 2008 interview on Meet the Press with General Colin Powell.[3][4] In particular, Powell referred to a photograph in The New Yorker which showed Khan's mother by his gravestone in Arlington National Cemetery.[1] Powell said that Khan's example refutes the anti-Muslim sentiment present in the Republican campaign during the 2008 U.S. Presidential election (q.v.), namely that being Muslim disqualifies a person from being a genuine, patriotic American, or that a Muslim could not become President.[5][6]

See also

Grave at Arlington National Cemetery

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Platon (September 29, 2008). "Service". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008.
  2. 1 2 Mathur, Shruti L. (August 20, 2007). "Blast kills Jersey Shore GI". Gannett News Service.
  3. ↑ "Powell endorses Obama for president: Republican ex-secretary of state calls Democrat 'transformational figure'". NBC News. October 19, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Meet the Press' transcript for October 19, 2008". NBC News. October 19, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
  5. ↑ Swerdlick, David (October 20, 2008). "'I'll Be Voting for Sen. Barack Obama.' Powell's endorsement repudiates both Bush and McCain and could drive undecideds into the Obama column". TheRoot.com.
  6. ↑ Tumulty, Karen (October 18, 2008). "Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan". Time Magazine (Swampland blog). Retrieved September 22, 2015.
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