Soldiers Find Faith in Muslim Somalia : Religion: Since serving in the relief operation there, some have taken time to study and eventually embrace the local religion and culture.

Pvt. Ivory Smith took a deep breath outside the one-room mosque and began the haunting call to Muslim dusk prayers.

His voice carried over the drone of the nearby generator, reaching a group of other U.S. soldiers clustered around a truck. They turned, obviously curious, and appeared even more puzzled to see men stripping off their desert boots to wash their feet.

Even though Americans have been serving in predominantly Muslim Somalia since the international relief operation began in early December, the teachings and rituals of Islam remain a mystery to most of them.

But an unknown number have embraced the local culture and become Muslims. The Department of Defense said it does not keep track of such conversions.

About 10 members of the 226th Supply and Service Co. based in Ft. Stewart, Ga., have made the switch since January. That does not include Smith, of Neptune, N.J., who said he converted to Islam about 15 years ago.

Capt. Bob Charles, head of the 226th, said the conversions have caused no major problems for the military.

“Of course, our mission comes first,” he said. “But we’ve been able to work around their prayer schedules.”

Every dawn and dusk, the soldiers gather at the masonry building that they have whitewashed and repaired in their spare time to serve as a mosque. A verse from the Koran is stenciled in black on the front.

A stretch of gravel marks the start of holy ground. A cleansing ceremony, in which Muslims wash their hands, arms, feet and ears, is required before walking there.

Inside, the soldiers lean their M-16 rifles in a corner before kneeling in the direction of Mecca and praying beneath a bare light bulb.

The soldiers said they were attracted to Islam largely by curiosity and had plenty of opportunity to study it in their spare time.

Pvt. Samuel Newman of Manchester, Tenn., said he has not converted yet. He had to overcome a preconceived negative image of Islam before he could even start to study it.

“I kind of thought it as a terrorist group; that was the first thought in my head,” he said. “I knew it was some kind of religion, but I didn’t know what. I had to find out for myself.”

Newman said he has been searching for the religion that suits his beliefs best, sampling the Methodist, Catholic, Protestant and Presbyterian churches.

“What I’ve read in the Koran seems to settle with me better than anything else so far,” he said.

Pvt. Allen Te Vault of Joplin, Mo., said he had watched Somalis deal with hardship and still smile.

“I saw how proud these people are,” he said, fingering a string of black prayer beads. “It’s such a poor society and they’re still happy.”

So Te Vault has given his mother two surprises: He converted to Islam three weeks ago, and he has a Somali fiancee.

“We’re supposed to be married when I return to the States,” said Te Vault, adding he would have had the ceremony in Somalia, except there is no government to make the union legal.

He said he expects no repercussions: “My family believes in me, and I believe in my family. Before, I was an atheist; to me there was no God. Now I know there is a God. It’s easier to know my life.”

Spec. Dennis Baker of Savannah, Ga., said he and four other Ft. Stewart soldiers have taken an oath to continue worshiping together when they go home so they’ll have support in refraining from old habits.

“Becoming a Muslim is not as simple as it may seem,” he said. “There’s a lot of responsibility. It’s also a way of life. And you’re being looked upon by others as role models.”