Service in a time of suspicion Experiences of Muslims serving in the U.S. military post-9/11

Since 9/11, thousands of Muslims have served in the US military; they have participated in many missions, including combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sociologist Sandhoff (Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania) offers an intimate glimpse into the varied tapestry of their lives. To craft her narrative, the author spent over a year and a half conducting personal interviews with Muslim Americans who have served since 9/11. Two important themes emerged. First, their experiences differed widely in relation to local conditions, especially the quality of leadership in their unit. Second, the vast majority of respondents articulated positive narratives, although the negative ones were most dismaying. Sandhoff organizes her volume into seven topical chapters, each one exploring a unique facet of military service for Muslim Americans. Her insightful contribution to the literature on US military service builds on previous studies examining African Americans, Japanese Americans, women, and LGBT communities, among others. The book should prove useful for students, scholars, and general readers interested in US military service, citizenship, and the vital connection between the two. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. --William Alan Taylor, Angelo State University

A concise snapshot of the prevailing military culture regarding Muslims.In this timely sociological study, Sandhoff (Sociology/Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania) traces the personal stories of a diverse collection of 15 Muslims who served or are still serving in the U.S. military since 9/11. Most are men, but there are a few women, and all self-identify as Muslim, including a convert. Most express positive experiences, but some are mixed and a few, negative. First, the author provides an overview of Muslim history in America and the change in attitudes since 9/11, when "being Muslim American became complicated." When the author approached her subjects, she wondered, would she find that the military, as an important social institution, provided a protective, supportive environment to society's marginalized members, or would she find "a problematic one"? On one hand, the U.S. military integrated African-Americans in the 1940s, but on the other hand, Japanese-Americans were incarcerated and dehumanized because they were associated with the enemy. Homosexuals were first excluded, then tolerated, then allowed to come out, and women were grudgingly incorporated. Sandhoff astutely compares the Japanese-American example to that of the Muslim-American: both sought to join the U.S. military in order to prove their citizenship and their loyalty. These same themes recur in the stories that the author elicits from her Muslim-American soldiers. Many hail from military families; some are observant regarding daily prayers, fasting, and dietary restrictions, of which the military has now become more accommodating. As a leading social institution, the Army's use of "diversity leadership" plays a huge role in how Muslims are made welcome or not. Many of the soldiers reveal the general ignorance in society about Muslim culture; one, Zafir, felt he was treated unfairly and his talents wasted, while another, Farid, had his family targeted in Pakistan because he was an American soldier in Afghanistan. A brief collection of fair-minded observations about "individuals that to varying degrees are shaped by, among other things, being Muslim." Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.