A civilian came to my office today asking for help. He is about 60, a US citizen, but was born in Kurdish Iraq. He is working as an interpreter for the Air Force.
He told me that he lived in Kirkuk until 1990, when Saddam “told me and my son he was going to send us to die.” I’m not sure what that meant. Perhaps Kurdish oppression, perhaps he was told he had to join the military. Rather than die, he and two sons, aged 11 and 18, fled the country to Turkey. They had to swim a river to get out, even though the 11 year old couldn’t swim. As he related this story, his eyes watered up and a single tear slid down his cheek. “Very difficult” he said.
He made it to Minot North Dakota, of all places, where he earned a Bachelors and then a Masters Degree in mathematics. He was eventually able to get his wife and all four sons to America. His wife now has diabetes, but two of his sons have graduated college.
He kept referring to America almost as an entity. He said that when he got to Turkey, he was threatened with deportation back to Iraq, but he told them, “No. America says this is not the way. Father Bush says he will support us.” He had a very high opinion of America and American soldiers. He said he’d had a bullet shot through his pants, just missing his leg. He’s been here two years.
He is not allowed outside the FOB to go visit his family, which is still in the Kirkuk area, because of the security situation. He believes it has become more stable and secure since the election. He is hopeful to get to see his family soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment