On Memorial Day: An "I" for Islam

From: Kyle Gassiott
Length: 03:26

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

Piece Audio

Playing: On Memorial Day: An "I" for Islam
From: Kyle Gassiott

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. 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. (NOTE: Longer version available as: "Good Muslims, Great Americans")

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Memorial Day: "Good Muslims, Great Americans" (07:11)
From: Kyle Gassiott

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

Piece Description

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. 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. (NOTE: Longer version available as: "Good Muslims, Great Americans")

Broadcast History

Aired on Iowa Public Radio 05/28/07- Memorial Day

Transcript

LEAD IN:
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.

TRACK 1
Abdullah Igram was born in 1923
and spent most of his life in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa. His parent?s owned
and operated a grocery store on the northwest
side of the city near the oldest mosque
in the United States. During WWII he
joined 15 other Muslim men from his
community who went to fight for their country overseas.
In 1946 Igram returned home after
being stationed in the Philippines for five years.
His widow Betty remembers the promise
he made during his enlistment?

ACT 1
Betty Igram:
?He made a vow to God that he was going to figh...
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

Host Intro:
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.