UPDATE 9/07: ROY HALLUMS RESCUED IN IRAQ!!!! Details here. Or try the Main Page.

UPDATE 1/25/05: Roy HALLUMS hostage video emerges, click here for details. Thank God Roy is still alive!
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American Roy Hallun has been held hostage in Iraq for the past 29 days. I first learned about this today. It was buried in a NY Times piece, almost to the end. I can't find any other information about Mr. Hallun other than incidental reports by the the press in the Phillippines. Roy Hallun was taken captive with a Fillipino named Robert Tarongoy and the Phillippines has now confirmed that they are in negotiations with the terrorists for his release.

Does any one have any further information about Mr. Hallun? Perhaps the more recent press reports have spelled his name incorrectly and this is why I was unable to fact check the story?
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12/01 From this post: Remembering the Forgotten American Hostages in Iraq

A friend of his left a comment today and reports that the correct spelling of his name is "Roy A. Hallums". The last 'Butch' heard from Roy he was in Amman Jordan working for the Saudi Arabian Trading and Construction Company (SATCO). In an e-mail sent to Butch last July, Roy mentioned he might be headed to Iraq soon. Any news about Roy would be welcomed by his friends and family. Neither the Pentagon nor SATCO has been forthcoming with information. Roy was kidnapped with several Iraqis, a Nepalese, and a Fillipino man all of whom have been released. The Phillipine government now confirms negotiating with the terrorists for Robert Tarongoy's freedom, something the Pentagon had warned would could be dangerous to the welfare of other hostages being held in Iraq..

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1/11/05: Tribute to American Hostage Roy Hallums

As close followers of this site know, a minor controversy was started when we published the name of an American civillian being held hostage in Iraq. His name first appeared as 'Roy Hallun' in a Fillipino newspaper and we republished that account here. In response to that initial post a friend of Roy contacted us and clarified that Roy's last name was actually 'Hallums'.

We published several posts about Roy Hallums, shocked that not a single mainstream media outlet had picked up on the story. Roy had been kidnapped with six other foreigners on November 1st. For weeks the State Department would only confirm that an American had been kidnapped but would not release his name. This seemed odd to us and we felt that the word should get out.

Members of Roy's family soon contacted us with words of encouragement. They too were perplexed that an American citizen could be held hostage in Iraq and yet no media would cover the story.

However, as some of you know, we took down several posts dedicated to Roy Hallums. A person close to Roy Hallums' contacted me with the concern that publicizing his account might jeopardize ongoing negotiations for his release. I was conflicted. On the one hand I felt a great deal of sympathy for this person. If I were in their shoes I would do everything possible, including paying a ransom to terrorists, for the release of my loved one. On the other hand, I wanted the whole world to know the depths of Islamofascist perfidy. As a matter of fact, my entire site is dedicated to that very goal.

In the end, the personal nature of the request won me over and I removed the posts as requested.

In the past few weeks, Roy's immediate family has been trying to get the word out about his plight and it seems the media is catching on. Just prior to my vacation I was contacted by a producer at CBS news who was trying to reach the Hallums family--I assume they ran the story although I've been out of the loop. Carrie and her mother Susan Hallums have also appeared on Good Morning America trying to get the word out about their loved one.

Carrie e-mailed me over my holiday letting me know that she had set up a web page dedicated to her father. If you have a minute I'd encourage you to go over there and look around. You can leave words of encouragement at this guest page. Also, please include Roy Hallums and his family in your prayers.

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Hallums Family Reacts to Hostage Video, $12 million dollar ranson demand made

Ghadaffi calls for Roy Hallums Release

State Department Admits 3 American Hostages 'Probably' in Iraq

Jesse Jackson to Intervene on Behalf of US Hostage Roy Hallums

Phillipines Paying Ransom for Hostage (Again): Roy Hallums-Libya Connection

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