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WEST JORDAN - Making his third public statement since surfacing in Beirut, Lebanon, earlier this month, Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun spoke to reporters Sunday and again pledged fidelity to the U.S. military.
"People who already know me and those who are getting to know me know I am proud to be a Muslim Arab-American serving with honor," Hassoun said Sunday afternoon in a brief news conference outside his family's home in West Jordan, where he is visiting on leave.
The 24-year-old Marine was reportedly kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents in June and once was feared to have been beheaded. Appearing fit and healthy Sunday in a bright yellow polo shirt and khakis, Hassoun made a plea on behalf of detainees across the globe.
"Having experienced being in captivity," he said, "I ask all people of the world to join me and pray for the safe release of all hostages."
In his statement, he also thanked people across the world for their prayers and extended his "warm gratitude" to the repatriation team for its continuing support.
And for the third time, Hassoun ended his public remarks with the Marine Corps motto "semper fi," short for semper fidelis, which means "always faithful." Flanked by his eldest brother, Mohamad, Hassoun turned and walked back inside the home after finishing his statement, taking no questions from reporters.
Hassoun arrived in Utah on Saturday, slipping past members of the media at Salt Lake City International Airport on his way to his brother's West Jordan home.
He is expected to remain on "convalescent leave" for the remainder of August before returning to his Camp Lejeune, N.C., base.
Family spokesman Tarek Nosseir said the Hassouns have requested the media "give them some time to heal together."
Hassoun could be reunited soon with his Lebanese wife and parents, who are expected to make the trip to Utah from their home in Tripoli, Lebanon, possibly as early as Tuesday.
While in Utah, a family member told The Salt Lake Tribune, Hassoun plans to go bowling, shoot pool "and have fun with his wife."
Lt. Col. Dave Lapan, a member of the repatriation team, says it is unlikely investigators with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service will question the corporal during his 30-day leave.
"There is nothing scheduled," Lapan said.
At issue is how Hassoun got from the unstable region near Fallujah, Iraq, to Beirut, Lebanon, a 500-mile trek across Syria.
When he didn't show up for duty June 20 in Iraq, officials said he had taken "unauthorized leave." His status was changed to captured after Arab television aired video of the blindfolded Marine with a sword brandished over his head.
Reports that Hassoun had been killed were followed the next day by claims he was safe. He was picked up in Beirut by the U.S. Embassy just over three weeks ago and has since been in the process of repatriation.