Raymond Plouhar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| S/Sgt Raymond J. Plouhar
United States Marine Corps |
|
|---|---|
| May 26, 1976 – June 26, 2006 (aged 30) | |
 Raymond Plouhar as he appeared when filmed for Fahrenheit 9/11 |
|
| Place of birth | Lake Orion, Michigan |
| Place of death | Anbar Province, Iraq |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1995 - 2006 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
| Awards | Purple Heart |
Raymond James Bryon Anthony Charles Plouhar (26 May 1976–26 June 2006) was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps killed by a roadside bomb in the Anbar Province of Iraq, while serving in the Iraq War on June 26, 2006. Although one of thousands of U.S. troops to have lost their lives in that conflict, Plouhar's death raised media attention because he had been filmed in 2004 in the politically charged Michael Moore documentary film Fahrenheit 9/11.
Plouhar was acting as a recruiter for the Marine Corps at the time he was filmed by Moore, whose film portrayed Plouhar attempting to enlist recruits in Moore's hometown of Flint, Michigan. At the time, Plouhar was then taking time off from active duty in the wake of his having donated a kidney to an uncle.[1] Plouhar's father reported that his son willingly allowed himself to be filmed, but was unaware that Moore was making a film critical of the war.[2] Other Marines filmed in the segment claimed they were tricked, saying they were not told that the filming was associated with Moore, or would be used to criticize their activities. They did not make explicit whether they had asked the purpose of the film; however, the Marines indicated that Moore's crew represented themselves as a New York based television production company, Westside Productions, interested in making a small documentary on high school job choices.[3]
A ten-year veteran of the Marine Corps, Plouhar was an infantry unit leader assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. He had been part of a unit engaged in projects to rebuild and revitalize schools in Iraq. He reportedly had 38 days left on his tour of duty at the time of his death.[2] He is survived by his wife and two children.[4]
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Associated Press. "Marine in ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ movie killed in Iraq, One-time recruiter died after roadside bombing in Anbar province", MSNBC, 2006-06-28. Retrieved on 2006-06-28.
- "Orion Marine killed in Iraq", The Oakland Press, June 28, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-28.
- Mark Memmott. "Marine who was in 'Fahrenheit 9/11' dies in Iraq", USA Today, June 28, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-28.
[edit] External links
- SSgt. Raymond Plouhar USMC. This is Who I Am. (Poem by SSgt Plouhar.)
- "World News IN BRIEF: Marine in Moore film dies in Iraq", The Independent, June 29, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-04-11.
- "'Fahrenheit' Marine Laid To Rest", CBS News, July 9, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-04-11.
- Raymond Plouhar. The Iraq Page. Retrieved on 2006-07-11.
- Fahrenheit 9/11 Teacher's Guide (Page from Michael Moore's website featuring a transcript of the segment in which Plouhar was filmed). MichaelMoore.com. Retrieved on 2006-06-28.
- Cpl. Mark Sixbey (May 10, 2006 May 9, 2006). Marines reach out to Iraqi school children in need. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2006-06-28. (Image of Plouhar helping Iraqi school children, May 9, 2006/)
