Page 18 - The Dispatch May 2019

ALMOST LOST HOPE:

THE JOURNEY FROM IRAQI TRANSLATOR TO TEXAS GUARDSMAN

Story by Capt. Nadine Wiley De Moura
Texas Joint Counter Drug Task Force

AUSTIN, Texas— An old pot filled with water boils on an
electric stove to be used for taking a warm shower, drink-
ing or cooking. The government-run electric supply is limit-
ed to five hours a day leaving people reliant on generators.
The streets are littered with trash and sewage and some-
times it’s unsafe to go outside due to chaos surrounding
the regime.

Centuries of war and corruption had led to failing infra-
structure, and a people controlled by Saddam Hussein’s
reign of terror, the daily reality for the people of Iraq was
economic and emotional despair.

For Baghdad native, Spc. Hussein Khairi, the poorly man-
aged resources and living in a corrupt government were
interwoven into his daily routine. Despite this, he studied
passionately, under his father’s instruction, learning En-
glish, not knowing that another war was ahead and his
diligence in learning English would provide him the oppor-
tunity to help change his country for the better.

Spc. Hussein Khairi, then a private first class, sprints through the
In 2003 the United States Military invaded Iraq. In need finish line of the eight-mile ruck march event during the unit level
of interpreters Soldiers turned to local civilians that were tryouts in order to qualify for the 2019 Best Warrior Competition
willing to assist in the mission to topple Saddam. Khairi's for the Texas Military Department, at Camp Swift, in Bastrop Tex-
father was one of the first translators hired. After seeing as, Dec. 14, 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by: Capt. Na-
the positive impact his father made, Khairi applied to be a dine Wiley De Moura)
translator as well.
For translators like Khairi, who speak five different dialects
“Helping translate for U.S. troops was something I really of the Arabic language, Egyptian, Levantine, Yemeni and
had a passion in doing and I believed in what I did, which Saudi, assisting U.S. troops had put himself and his family
was helping both countries, Iraq and the United States,” in harm’s way.
Khairi, 36, said. “Our convoys had been hit many times by
improvised explosive devices and sniper but I really didn’t “Translators were under threat 24-7 because regardless of
care if something happened to me because that was the where you are, the enemy is always hunting for you,” said
only way we would be able to stop terrorism.” Khairi. “The translator would be with the troops and they
actually would try to target you among the U.S. troops. My
For five years, Khairi worked as an Iraqi translator for family and I were targeted on my days off and in my civil-
U.S. troops, traveling with them on dangerous convoys ian life because they view translators as traitors.”
and joining them on missions where came to understand
American beliefs and values. He was prompted after this Khairi, who had been translating for U.S. troops including
to work toward becoming not only a U.S. Citizen, but an the Navy, Army and Marines since he was 18 years-old,
American Soldier. sought a more secure future for his family. He applied for a
special immigrant visa that would allow his family to relo-
OUR FORCE cate to the U.S. and lead to eventual American Citizenship.

FEATURE STORIES ON TEXAS GUARD MEMBERS