Marine has emotional reunion with Afghan interpreter, wife he helped escape Kabul

[@James-sm1lh]

I just found out yesterday that our interpreter made it to the US safely. I could not be happier, or proud.

[@belindaingrid3419]

So beautiful

[@jasonwilliamson8416]

MY interpreter for 3 years was left behind and was hung two days after the BIDEN debacle. I'm glad these folks made it out but I am appalled that the FULL story isn't being told by the leftist media. They only want to cover the "feel good" stories when the REALITY is that MOST of our allies in the region were left hanging.

[@african_sunsets]

Wow 👌 ❤😊 👏

[@willhues7243]

I’m so glad to hear that! How is he doing now?

[@dean5192]

“Must get it from his mom, not you” Thats how you know they’re not only military, but close friends. A quip like that is a sign of love for a brother in the military. Awesome story.

[@babs629]

I was just scrolling down to leave a very similar comment , but you said it so perfectly I didn't have to. ☺

[@darrenheadrick3669]

@dean5192 Not best friends, brothers. I served 20 years and deployed 7 times, 4 to the middle east. I can say with all honesty, our interpreters shared in the same horrors as we did, felt the same fears and felt the same pains. In some ways it was worse for our interpreters because we got to come back home. After we left they were left behind and had to face the taliban knowing they would be treated as traders and killed.

[@peterorndorff1172]

Not only vets, close bonded guys will say shit to each other.

[@glenjolivette7460]

I remember seeing a buddy of mine out of no where in some random place, years after we last spoke. The first thing out of his mouth was "Good lord, still as ugly as before, but fatter now!" As we started crying when we hugged. Most people will never ever understand.

[@sashagarcia6205]

my husband had a translator in Afghanistan, we send them Christmas gifts every year they live happy in texas now its beautiful ❤

[@zaria5785]

Thank you for sharing this story. This is humanizing our veterans and the Afghan families whose lives have intertwined over the past 20 years.

[@zari2662]

We have the same name 👋🏽

[@FFXI1099]

I wish most Americans would understand that most of Afghans are our allies. This is emotional!

[@HK-pp9ig]

"Most", you are ecactly right, most. So it should be these people who have been helped to help the US back to make America safe the the ones who do not fit "most"... just saying, no prejudice here.

[@juno6602]

Our real enemies aren't the Afghan people. They're military and intelligence officials across the Durand line. They sponsor terrorism on the regular, both regionally and worldwide, and have been feeding us lies since way before 9/11. They hold a country full of decent people captive, and what's worse is that the scheming bastards have nukes, too.

[@AcornSmokes420]

Did you know taliban was formed by afghan farmers who usa killed their relatives in an illegal invasion!!! 99% of Afghanistan is anti invaders aka usa

[@goemon9378]

if it were really most, then most would be able to control the country instead of Taliban.

[@klk1900]

So it’s actually only about 20-25%. The news would lead you to believe that just to peddle support for war. The reality is 75% of Afghans mostly tribal. They supported us for the first 3-4years. Then what happened is crooked Afghan politicians started using the American military to intimidate there enemies. Understand Afghans don’t see it as one country. They are so freaking tribal. Village A routinely fights village B,C, & D that’s literally on the north, east, & south sides of the same mountain. -- the key to remember is Afghans are not push overs. They are fighters so if Afghans didn’t want the Taliban I promise you they would’ve been history in 2001. The issue is the majority of Afghans support the Taliban because that’s there sons and fathers that are the Taliban. -- Kabul and the bigger cities are more PRO American. -- also you gotta understand the Pakistanis have undermined us from day one and supplied those Afghans weapons. Basically for the same reason we allow the drug cartel to rape our southern border. In the event somebody wanted to invade us, they would have to fight the cartel first. -- it’s a destructive way to get security because ultimately those groups will turn on you. If you look now the cartel is so powerful because we enabled them. The Taliban is powerful because the Pakistanis supplied them money and weapons. -- but our initial plan was to not go after the Taliban in 2001 because we knew how much the Afghans supported them. We simply wanted osama the leader of ALQ. Which is very different from the Taliban.

[@TheAtl0001]

Nothing stronger, tighter than the bond between men who faced adversity together, brother in arms.

[@love-sk7rb]

Traitor to his people

[@hillsane9262]

@@love-sk7rb LOL! It's a paradise now!

[@love-sk7rb]

@@hillsane9262 Of course Afghanistan is a paradise for the people of Afghanistan as long as the terrorist state of America leave us alone

[@hillsane9262]

@@love-sk7rb LOL! The women are treated like crap. There is a mass starvation. Some of that is because the US is messing with their money but others is they won't let women help both from the government and NGO. How about selling some more blood or body parts?

[@iBeReaper]

@@love-sk7rb you guys started it

[@37903abc]

The "TRUST" these two men had. Heart warming.

[@charliechan6827]

HEROES, both of you. THIS makes me so proud of my country.

[@JDD888]

Nice people, but let down by your country.

[@jgjg3848]

@@JDD888 let down by the corrupt idiot in the White House.

[@kevinprzy4539]

@@JDD888 tbh majority of the Afghan people are sadly like sheep, they need someone to constantly protect them, I have heard so many stories from vets about how the ANA (Afghan National Army) were constantly weak and they never took their duties seriously and sometimes they would sneak out to go smoke hashish and that in general they didn't seem to care much about actually learning to protect themselves and their country (don't get me wrong there's definitely a lot that were patriotic and took it seriously but majority didn't)

[@MarshallHendrix-nx2gg]

Bro, we left a TON more people behind that we had promised to look after

[@AlainnCorcaigh]

yea let's just forget about the mess made in Iraq

[@kamarbazarek6460]

Sir, YOU ARE SUCH A HERO!!!! SEEING THIS, MAKES ME SOOOOO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN BY BIRTH & CHOICE.... SHUKRAN JAZEELAHN SWEET BROTHER - FOR HELPING MY SISTER AND HER SON & HUSBAND!!!!! MUCH HEALTH & HAPPINESS TO ALL 🙏💐🙏❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@mattypants]

This is so heartwarming. So many Afghan people were left behind. Glad they are here and safe.

[@SuperRobertoClemente]

Right, no offense to anyone here but I don't find this that heartwarming, because I know a lot of other folks got left behind. Those Afghans who we actively involved in our attempt to reform this nation-- why weren't ALL of them allowed to migrate to the U.S. right away when we pulled out? What did we think would happen to them? I feel like stories like this convey the sense that we did right by all those who supported us there, but I strongly suspect that we failed many of them.

[@mattypants]

@@SuperRobertoClemente because the US does what the US always does, made a gigantic mess of someone else's country and then just walked away in a half ass manner after wasting an almost unmeasurable amount of money and human life. We blow up schools full of children and hospitals full of people already injured by our wars and call it collateral damage but a woman tries to have a parasitical sack of cells removed from her womb and we have a melt down over it. Hypocrisy, racism, violence, there isn't much that's great about this country when you actually analyze our behavior. I found this one incident heartwarming because I'm so happy his family at least made it out, what we did to those people, what we always do, we lied to get them to help them left them to be hunted, tortured, and murdered. How can one be proud of a nation that's so shameful. We need to do better.

[@Steve.._.]

​@@SuperRobertoClementebecause it wouldnt have been safe. They barely got out as it is

[@SuperRobertoClemente]

@@Steve.._. Safe for whom?

[@btbarr16]

I work at an airport in Arizona, at one of the fixed base operators at our airport. There are quite a few Afghan refugees employed there.

[@treadlightly6427]

"I don't know if I'm worthy of these words" ~A Hero

[@frogneckmen857]

This is fantastic. I wish anyone who would want to come to America safe travels here, welcome and sending love from pittsburgh!

[@thegloal]

I held back banquet of choked ,tears of joy,sobs emotions in my throat ,mouth and heart seeing this

[@deniseeugene1852]

Our soldiers are our best ambassadors overseas. Much respect I have for our military men and women. So proud..👏🏾👍🏾💪🏾

[@wizzardofpaws2420]

You are so right. We are different from others. We value life.

[@trojanbiz]

@@wizzardofpaws2420 My Lai says hello. We send young men into horrible situations. Let’s stop wars.

[@jumaalbalushi4204]

What about the thousands ur troops killed ambassadors my black Ass

[@LandMasters-f3z]

@@wizzardofpaws2420 you value life? Joke of the century, can you count the number of innocent ppl you killed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam including children ?

[@alwaysbanned4812]

tell that to japan LOL

[@larrywong4966]

wonderful pics and story, so good to have a heartwarming story for a change.Too much news that is mostly bad.

[@Mila-er6ms]

🎯

[@muhammadfarooq1954]

Generally the Americans are philanthropist and kind hearted people. I strongly appreciate their love, affection, generosity and soft spoken.

[@wesmartyn3829]

Humans, helping humans, no religion, no politics. Friends

[@nurhassan8053]

Wonderful story. Friendship is a bond that has no border nor color.

[@macrichardson7440]

It is these rare fleeting moments that my glimmer of hope in our country still shines. With so so much hate from one party of our system who was all too ready to forget these brave men and women , to see this Marine hold value in the friendship means a lot. This is a very special hero man and his interpreter.

[@jenniturtleburger3708]

It’s an utter disgrace how many translators got left behind to be tortured and killed or flee and hide underground in some hole with their families.

[@Trund27]

Absolutely.

[@Oskyldig-ot1yr]

Agree. These people should be taken care of

[@rg20322]

You can thank the current person in charge with the way he handled the situation.

[@Oskyldig-ot1yr]

@@rg20322 Trump"negotiated"with the Talibans to leave Afghanistan. Imbecile

[@revelation12_1]

They are up in arms about Jan 6 but this is the real crime.

[@LAWOODSTORIES]

Such an amazing and emotional story ❤️ This man is a real hero. God bless him 🙏💙

[@Cheeky_moon]

What an amazing soldier and gentleman. When he found her sleeping on the tarmac and left her some water and MRE’s….💓

[@SparklyStoner360]

Marine* not soldier.

[@susangordon1833]

Great story..sir you are a hero...I'm so glad they are here and safe...

[@rncine]

Wow, what an incredible story. Wish we can hear more like this 👍😍

[@noyanaatlas]

That was really heartwarming God keep him safe for such a lovely heart he has ❤❤❤

[@davegauvin7234]

First I will say, SEMPER FI. Second, it is so BEAUTIFUL that You Sir are able to see Your BEAUTIFUL Wife again and also to meet your Son for the First time. Third, to the Newscaster Lady, I know when you left there, You had a box of Tissues with You. I ran out of mine.

[@GM8101PHX]

The Major should be wearing Lt. Col for his efforts, but I am sure he did not want the recognition, because serving our country does not require thanks, we served because we Love the United States of America!! I am so happy they had the reunion, this kind of action changes lives, you can bet anyone bad mouthing our country will get a huge ear full from this family, and now the family counts 4 Mom, Dad, the son and the Major!!!

[@SALTSoldiersComingHome]

The soldiers coming home surprise is a reflection of the resilience and courage they possess, even in the face of adversity.

[@climbingbow]

he went the extra step to help them get out not a lot of soldiers in such a chaotic time would take the moment to say give me something to see her to get fam out.

[@exonexxon2066]

What a very nice gesture of gratitude.

[@Danjr704]

If anyone gets a chance to watch the movie ‘the covenant’, do it. Guy Ritchie directed this, and it’s a similar storyline but gives you first hand perspective of what the interpreters did for US military, with the promise of giving them the ability to move to US. For those who don’t know, after US troops were evacuated, the US would not honor their agreement and anyone that was previously an interpreter, or helped US military in an way, was hunted down by the Taliban, and still are to this day. Really tough situation out there.

[@brianstiggins494]

I’ve been wanting watch it for a few weeks and I’m going to rent it today. I’ve been eager to watch it!

[@Fire.Dragon76]

I clicked on this video because I thought it has a similar storyline to The Covenant.

[@skipmcdonald6527]

A beautiful story of love and care❤

[@adnantariq3346]

Talking about cutting onions. Now that was a good story.

[@nancyhuffman5802]

I never thought such a thing would happen again , during my lifetime.

[@linda6987]

God bless sir! Well done you! ♥️

[@linda6987]

He did what Biden didn’t or wouldn’t do....

[@Trund27]

Brothers forever.

[@WenFou-tn5ul]

Just watched the movie convenant & came across this video! Such a great story!

[@덴버이야기]

Thank you!

[@donaldj3286]

Im not American but im proud to America this country have compassion.

[@pablovagnor]

Saying "hello" to someone is the EASIEST thing you can do. That can cause wripples & waves in an ocean

[@janetblack5181]

Well done Marine, my husband, Col. Whitehill, would have been so very very proud of you.

[@asifiqbal9680]

Tears only.. Nothing more I can say. This is pure love and kindness at highest level. This is what humanity needs right now.

[@tailwind12]

i am a retired city official and spent 8yrs with DoS and DoD in afghansitan until 2017. half in kabul (central) region and half in the north (mazar). i was a supervisor with the police mentor teams and an advisor to the ANP in kabul. i worked with at least 60+ language assistants over that time frame. for 2 years (2009-2011) i supervised a pool of 20 LA's. good guys (one girl) did their job. no doubt. few problems of nothing different that any 23yoa in the world and work. that is not the point: we did not go to afghaistan in 2002 to "save the LA's". they were hired, strictly to work for the US to defend their nation and re-build THEIR nation. not to COME to our nation. they all were aware of that. they were paid well to very well for afghan standards. they had risks, so did we and they knew the risks. i had some LA's just by what work needed to done like translations on the base or documents. for months or 90% of the time, never left the US base. today they in media were "warriors" climbing under bob-wire to get to work each day to "defend america". the real reason: it was "cool" to work for NATO/US and it paid well and was "a" job in afghanistan. when the special immigration visa (SIV) program started working in like 2011 we had at least a dozen LA's coping their "hardship letters" word for word. the worse thing we could of done in that mission was to while the conflict was ongoing was to "pass out" visas to the US to the LA's. the ANA, ANP all knew about it and was pissed. so IF you work for the US for 2yrs you get a visa to the US for good, safe life. but the ANA, ANP now "you" stay in afghanistan and fight the Taliban for $400 a month? i had a LTC of the afghan police ask me: "me and my men have worked 5-10 or 15yrs in the afghan police and we speak conversational english can we get an SIV". nope ONLY if you worked for the US/NATO directly. so you guys stay and fight and die. so how did that work out in August 2021. listen i will not convince you of something else IF you believe this "they were one of us" BS. believe what you want. i spent way more time in the "box" of afghanistan than these guys. i use to think when the LA were spending hours filling out SIV forms? not one of them volunteered to go to the ANP, ANA and fight for their nation. they just wanted out and came up with PR lines and excuses of: we "owe" them a SIV. i reviewed their contracts: never, EVER and i mean ever was there a written, legal promise of an SIV. ever. you ever see an afghan LA show you their work agreement (contract) in media that promised a "SIV"? never. why? there never was a promise. it was a verbal made up story about the SIV program being a promise, it was an application not a promise. a now retired SM back in 2011 told me while we were on a mobile mission, and so true: the language assistants do not want "freedom" for afghanistan, they want freedom "from" afghanistan. working for the US is just "game" for them to get it (visa). the above is valid and true. believe anything else you want at all, if you choose. it IS you tax money wasted on them after ,2400+ US personnel were killed defending NOT a SIV program but the integrity of the nation of: afghanistan.

[@christineroberts6972]

God bless and thank you for your service ❤

[@sukidawter]

Hearts & minds ❤. Everyone is a hero in this story. Thank you 🙏

[@nevamind68t23]

Thank you 🙏🏾👍🏾🦘🤎

[@jillywells1232]

So precious!❤❤❤

[@FIGGY65]

Awesome story !

[@normabreazile5500]

Beautiful story! ❤️

[@polloloci21]

The Marine in him came out in the end. Haha. 😂 good dude.

[@kvl505]

Why am I tearing up?

[@margaretgray4170]

Beautiful story!

[@evgenyapermekova8220]

Amazing man so happy for a happy ending and for humans got reunited

[@KariAnnArmijo-zz6ll]

Lots of good people were left behind. I served in Afghanistan and hurts that the US military turned thier backs on the people that helped. Great story but the lies that are told are awful. God bless this Marine and the folks he helped. More has to be done to help the interpreters.

[@patriciamitchell9365]

Turned their backs? We were their for 20 years - you have to draw the line somewhere.

[@Sleepydill]

its just crazy because i grew up around Marines when i was little and you can just tell this guy just wants to burst out in tears just by reading the old messages.

[@JudgeDredd_]

I’ve followed this story this is cool

[@georgewin7243]

beautiful story!

[@janetpartyka5968]

I'm reading their book. God bless them and their families.

[@donnyfainu2843]

God bless you soldier

[@pep590]

Kudos to the Major!

[@25bonsai]

Humanity, beautiful 🙏🏻

[@frenchitaaki7357]

❤❤❤ How wonderful!!!☺️

[@tricao57]

_ True friendships last forever_

[@vanessaplante4209]

❤🙏 God bless you'll

[@acedd1173]

Any one else tearing up? 😢

[@bugvswindshield]

oh heck ya! God bless all involved.

[@anneliedorman2435]

This should never happened god bless our military and the man who helped ❤❤

[@brandondavenport6147]

Awesome 👍

[@freddyaguirre4091]

Wow. This should be made into a movie.

[@janflaherty3819]

God bless ❤

[@solodad7999]

This is what America is about! Bless them all.

[@AdrianShoutout]

i remembered my friends who were U.S. Marines in 2004 here in Angeles City Philippines, i fed them Balut and they loved it. 🇵🇭😎🇵🇭

[@colwilliamnoydb4134]

Was like the with drawl from Saigon. I got to see that up close and personal as a child. Thousands of South Vietnamese stormed the Embassy, many who had helped the US and were now exposed and faced death as collaborators. Years later it happened again in Afghanistan. Guides, Interpreters, anyone who provided assistance and others who feared for their lives rushed the airport. Regardless of what admin was in place during this evacuation, it was going to be a mess. Happy many have made it here to the US and were saved. Just like the many Vietnamese who sailed out on overcrowded ships and military pilots who flew out to the fleet to be saved. War is a messy business and there are more casualties, than just those on the field.

[@johnm725]

So many left behind. This just reminds me of how badly these interpreters were treated after the withdrawal.

[@ernestpaniagua1210]

Good to hear those of us who was there either Iraq or Afghanistan most of us wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the terps. I ran into a interpreter from Afghanistan myself a Iraq vet he needed help I did what ever I could to include giving him my truck that I didn't need.

[@tantebaguette]

3:23 he says instead of muslim greeting "salam aleykum", "shalom aleykhem". Very similar but it's a Jewish greeting (Hebrew). Kind of cute 😍

[@kaleheidke5232]

Respect

[@daisy8297]

Pity the US failed to save all the other interpreters and people who assisted them for so many years in their haste to leave Afghanistan. The failure to keep their promise will go down as one of the most shameful passages in US history. So far 350 former interpreters etc and their families have been hunted down and murdered by the Taliban. Shame, shame, shame, they deserved so much better. I know it wasn’t the fault of the US forces on the ground btw.

[@Chertoff88]

God I needed some good news today. And it wasn't a evacuation it was a retreat

[@niclewis9610]

❤❤❤ not just brothers in arms

[@mistertestsubject]

why did we cut back to the reporters to get the details. I'd much rather have heard them from the subject of the story.

[@evacaraballo2647]

Love the soldiers in my country 🇺🇸 so proud then they have a big heart ❤️ thank you for fighting for the best country in the world love all the veterans 😂😂😂😂

[@usereman123]

😂😂 joke of the year!!

[@ibizawavey8630]

wow amazing.

[@jdsheleg8332]

I was able to assist one of the interpreters assigned to us, he made it last year to the USA, after months of hiding. God gave me the opportunity to support while hiding, as I felt ashamed of what was done by the Biden administration. There are still others that worked with me, and I wish I could reach out and assist them in some form.

[@שושנהבןדור]

Keep in mind that Trump set the date for withdrawal and no one, or perhaps very few, expected so little resistance to the Taliban as they retook the country. That probably set the stage for expecting Zelenskyy to flee and Russia to take Ukraine. But Ukrainians are fighting for their independence. The contrast between how Afghanis acted and how Ukrainians did and are acting could not be greater.

[@bartwilson2513]

The Biden admin, huh. What about when Trump was in office he and Stephen Miller stopped processing virtually ALL translator/ally visas. For years. They didn't want more brown people in the country. That left Biden with a huge backlog. And since Trump had gone behind the backs of the Afghan government, freed 5000 Taliban terrorists, made a deal with the Taliban in which the U.S got nothing. Trump left Biden with no time to extend. Trump even boasted at his post presidency campaign rally that he made sure to leave it s Biden had no choice but to leave immediately. He laughed. Your thoughts on who is to blame?

[@eolsunder]

has nothing to do with the american government. It isn't our country, if the Afghan people want to support the Taliban instead of fighting against them, that is their problem and is nothing we can do about it. If they don't want their country, nothing we can do to help.

[@bartwilson2513]

@@eolsunder It was Trumpy who ignored the Afghan government and negotiated a deal directly with the Taliban that gave the US nothing ( I REPEAT NOTHING) and screwed over Biden. Trump let 5000 Taliban fighters out of prison. The US once again abandoning its allies and washing itself clean of the messes they make.

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

A lot of time wasted in Iraq and Afghanistan for the sake of not looking weak after 11/9.

[@judasthepious1499]

not just time.. we waste a lot of resources (read : money) just to wage a prolonged and maybe unnecessary war, now look at the disastrous economy we're in..

[@zomkino]

not looking weak yes and no i mean regardless of your pov on the attack (you know either you are a conspiracy believer or whatever) the people who had families killed were not going to be like : "oh that's too bad, let's do nothing, we'll make more kids later" would you have done that if say a russian killed your mom or anything related to you ? It's a rhetorical question, anyone who says they would do nothing don't deserve to have anyone depending on them..

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

@@zomkino By the logic of revenge, the USA should've invaded Saudi Arabia, which was the country of origin of the attackers and the ideology that motivated the attack.

[@zomkino]

@@Waldemarvonanhalt They went to war against insurgents, the ones who actually planned the whole thing so yeah the logic of revenge eye for an eye, is it always the smart thing to do ? not everytime, but it's needed, otherwise it keeps going and you never do anything. Thats why there's strong men protecting weaklings who say we shouldn't do anything, better to be a soldier in a garden, than a gardenner at war

[@brandondodd3133]

We have an Afghan interpreter for us forcres here in Eugene Oregon and they own a tobacco shop and they are very nice people always hooking me up with free items lighters and all kinds of stuff and i always tip them as much as I can

[@margaretburnham5683]

What about all of the US citizens that are trapped there?

[@ptommo1543]

I’m not even cutting onions 😊

[@stevent425]

This video showed none of the reunion!!!

[@johnmagill7714]

Our interpreters and their families are the ones who should get head of the line into the U.S. Not the criminals invading our southern border.

[@Ycytd5d78vcy]

Awesome

[@jackiecartwright9343]

Im confused. If she was 5 mths pregnant when she left Afghanistan, how is it their already born baby is being lifted out of a crowd over a fence to a marine?

[@jacqnpacct1722]

This is not the same baby. Also, different marine.

[@patrickspooner3029]

God bless American soldiers 🙏

[@Anonymous-ff5wr]

Yes Heroes

[@bryanwozniak8861]

I am still waiting for my interpreter to get to the state!!

[@Gws_2]

amazing to think nobody has been prosecuted for the disgraceful withdrawal from afghanistan.

[@KAPTV24]

Is this the inspiration story to the movie of Jake Gylenhaal “Covenant”?

[@TheStudderman]

This is what the “Good Guys” do.

[@Fajah69]

This guy is better than the bone spur people who call themselves patriots here in the US.

[@AlexA-wb9pr]

Pretty crazy that somehow the afghans that were actually able to talk to and spend time with the americans turned out to become friends and allies, its hard to hate someone if you know them

[@tomcollins5195]

Great story! Just wondering why a Major is wearing scrambled eggs on his cover. I always thought was for O5 and above.