Who Is Major Gamal Awad?
The AP has a story that has received a big play in the Sunday papers. Wounded Vets Also Suffer Financial Woes is how it’s titled in Rochester’s Democrat & Chronicle.
The star of the story is retired Marine Corps Major Gamal Awad. Major Awad was at the Pentagon on September 11 and received an award for his work that day. He’s served a tour in Kuwait, and another in Iraq where he was injured by an IED. He’s retired on disability, suffering from PTSD and depression.
He receives $53,000 yearly from the government. His mortgage, on a home in the California wine country, is $1,400 more a month than his pension.
He’s divorced and living alone with his memories and demons.
Here’s the deal. Who is Gamal Awad? I am unable to locate any reference to this man before the AP story. No story about the medal for 9/11. No story about his being wounded in Iraq. Searched the DoD web site. Nothing.
The Democrat & Chronicle did not print the entire AP story, but they covered the Awad portion. The story states that part of his PTSD is due to what he saw in Kuwait. That would be at a peaceful military base in a country without fighting.
The story also says that he was making $100,000 yearly as a major. According to the Marine web site, the pay rate for a major with 20 years in, the top rate, is about $75,000 a year. Combat pay, etc., could make up the difference but it appears on the face of it that the story overstates his pay rate.
I’ve written the AP to ask if they verified his story with the Marines or DoD.
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“He’s divorced and living alone with his memories and demons.”
Reminds me of my ex…..
We, the Sudanese Americans, are asking the same question! As a small community, we tend to know each other even if not personally, you would know someone who knows someone who knows,….etc. Mr. Awad’s story touches me personally at two levels: 1- I am a Sudanese immigrant and a father of a “yuk” at West Point. So, he could be a future Mr. Awad, and; 2- As the president of the Sudanese American National Affairs and Development Foundation (SANAD) my job, to the extent of our means, is to look after any person with Sudanese heritage.
I would appreciate passing any information to me at zdafaallah@sanadfoundation.org
Thank you
Zack
20/20 had Gamal Awad on the show briefly tonight, in a segment regarding drug use in the military (he is not shown in a bad light, however).
How can Gamal Awad be contacted -address or phone?
Found this. They say he’s legit.
http://sandiegoconservative.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html
For those interested in contacting me, my phone number is 951.551.2132. All phone calls are recorded.
Respectfully,
Gamal F. Awad
My name is Gary Walker I’m a CWO4 in the US Marines and I’m the man who told on former Maj Awad to get him kicked out of the Marine Corps! He has lied to you all and any person who read that story and believed it! He does NOT have PTSD and all the crap he said about his problems are made up! I worked around him I KNOW what was going on and I know all about the trust he violated when he began sleeping with the young female troops that worked for him!
He does NOT deserve your sympathy and ALL this he brought on him self. If he has PTSD I have wings and can fly! I speak the truth and can back up everything I say. He might have some piece of paper that says he has PTSD but he is an outstanding actor and liar! Don’t feel sorry for him. Instead feel sorry for the other who DO have PTSD and are struggling each and every day. They are deserving of your prayers NOT this guy!
Gary Walker
CWO4 USMC
UPDATE: E-mail to the address provided was returned as undeliverable.