Misc.: Farris Hassan

A most unusual young man is Farris Hassan, who, while a junior at a Florida prep school, took off alone to the war-torn Middle East.

In 2005, over his Christmas break, he flew to Kuwait, then to Lebanon, and from there to Baghdad. His reported purpose was to see for himself what was happening in that part of the world. His parents were Iraqi.

The boy was picked up in Baghdad by the 101st Airborne and put on a plane for the States.

Early stories about young Mr. Hassan and his excellent adventure reported that he was traveling alone and that his parents did not know about his sudden trip. Later reports disputed both those points. Apparently, his father had been in on the trip and had arranged for secutiry for the boy.

The trip was, nevertheless, gutsy and dangerous, and it captured the public's imagination for a time.

Since then, Farris has set up a charity to send supplies and funds to Iraqi schools and to foster understanding between various religious grops.

He made a similar, but less publicized trip to Afghanistan in 2007. As of 2009, he is enrolled at Amherst College.