Eugene Armstrong

Olin Eugene Armstrong, Jr. (5 June 1953 - 20 September 2004) was a foreign hostage in Iraq, beheaded by his captors in 2004.

Background

Armstrong, also known by his nickname "Jack", grew up in the south-central Michigan community of Hillsdale, where he lived until 1990.Fact|date=March 2008

Work in Iraq

Armstrong was an American contractor working in Iraq for the construction firm "Gulf Supplies and Commercial Services" of the United Arab Emirates.Cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/09/20/iraq.beheading/|title=Video shows American hostage beheaded|accessdate=2008-03-30|publisher=CNN|year=2004-09-20]

Capture and murder

After being taken hostage on September 16 2004, Armstrong was beheaded [http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL297059220070531 FACTBOX-Prominent kidnappings of foreigners in Iraq] Accessed 12 March 2008.] on 20 September 2004 by the Tawhid and Jihad militant group.Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2004/09/20/hostage040920.html|title=American hostage beheaded: video|accessdate=2008-03-30|publisher=CBC|year=2004-09-20] Abu Musab al-Zarqawi admitted that he personally beheaded Armstrong. [http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2004/09/web_site_american_hostage_killed_in_iraq/] The following day, the group beheaded fellow American Jack Hensley, and threatened to kill their third hostage, Briton Kenneth Bigley, unless the United States met their demands to free all women prisoners in Iraqi jails.Cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/09/20/iraq.beheading/|title=Video shows American hostage beheaded|accessdate=2008-03-30|publisher=CNN|year=2004-09-20] Bigley was later beheaded in October 2004.

ee also

* Daniel Pearl
* Nick Berg
* Paul Marshall Johnson, Jr.
* Kim Sun-il
* Shosei Koda
* Jack Hensley
* Kenneth Bigley
* Keven Dagit
* Sascha Grenner-Case
* Christopher Lem
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
* Human rights situation in post-Saddam Iraq

References