Soldier and his Iraqi bride shared just one language – love

PORT ORCHARD – Robert Hall says he knew within a month of meeting Vivian Mansour that he would marry her.

But there were a few problems to resolve before that could happen.

Hall, 23, of Silverdale, was in Iraq as an activated Army reservist. And Mansour, 21, of Baghdad, didn’t speak any English.

Love being what it is, Hall and Mansour overcame the obstacles and were married Saturday in Port Orchard.

When they first met, neither spoke a word of the other’s language. Mansour’s English is still a work in progress, but she does not hesitate to say what attracted her to Hall.

“Heart first,” she said, pointing to her chest.

Hall, whose reserve unit was activated in January 2003, said he’s never been happier. “I never in my life saw this coming,” he said.

Hall was with the 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion, which set up camp inside the Baghdad palace complex. The battalion worked closely with Iraqis, helping to rebuild infrastructure and clear weapons caches from schools.

He met Mansour – along with her mother and sister – when the women were hired to clean houses in the complex.

“Every time she came over, I kind of followed her and watched her clean,” Hall said.

“Yes, everywhere,” Mansour recalled, laughing.

He met with his unit’s attorney to make sure their interactions were legal. The couple met only in open settings when Hall was off duty.

“I made sure every step of the way I wasn’t doing anything illegal. That was important to me. I wasn’t there for Vivian. I wasn’t there to have a relationship,” Hall said.

“I wouldn’t suggest having a relationship over there at all. It makes it that much harder. But I find myself blessed for what happened.”

For the couple, their cultural differences are offset by their shared faith. Mansour is a Kurdish Christian – a population that makes up just 3 percent of the predominantly Muslim nation of 24 million people.

“It’s such a learning experience,” Hall said. “Our cultures are different, but the way we look at it is we’re both children of God. We both have the same standards, the same hopes, and that’s where our bottom line is.”

Iraq’s Christian population is actually worse off now than before Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was ousted, he said. Although Hussein’s regime persecuted Christians, the dictator did not allow other groups to do so.

“They were in danger from Saddam, but he ironically provided security for them,” Hall said.

Mansour supports the regime change. “Now people are free without him,” she said.

A wave of church bombings that began two weeks ago has prompted about 40,000 Iraqi Christians to leave Iraq, according to figures released by the interim government this week. Mansour and her family attended one of those churches, but she said no one she knows was injured in the attacks.

Her family members have been in danger not only because of their faith, but because they worked for the U.S. military, helping to maintain soldiers’ quarters.

Hall, who earned a Bronze Star for meritorious service during his one-year tour, returned home in March. Hall worked with the office of U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., to secure a fiance visa for Mansour, then returned to the Mideast to wait with her and her father in Jordan for papers from the U.S. Embassy there.

The documents came through in late July.

“We were fortunate for the visa process to go this fast,” Hall said. “We had a lot of help in getting it expedited.”

The wedding was hurried because Mansour’s visa expires in just two months. Local businesses contributed or gave discount rates on flowers, catering and other services for their wedding.

“People think it’s great,” Hall said.

Mansour, who had never before been outside Baghdad, misses her parents, her sister and her four brothers. However, some of her relatives from San Diego flew north to attend the wedding.

Hall says his main focus initially will be to help her feel at home. He plans to finish school – he’s two semesters shy of a degree in religious studies from Liberty University – and eventually hopes to enter politics.

When President Bush visited Iraq last Thanksgiving, Hall said he confidently told the president his goal was the White House.