Former military translator in Afghanistan looks to help countrymen

A man who fled with his family from Afghanistan in fear for their lives has found a new start in the Bay Area and aims to help others.

He says they were targeted because he worked for U.S. Military and State Department.

Hassan Etemadi is now living a life in a free country he could only dream of when he was in Afghanistan now that he has settled in Hayward

The 29 year old and his wife are raising their two-year-old daughter in a two bedroom apartment.
   
Two years ago, he left his homeland of eastern Afghanistan where he worked as a translator during the war.

"For us, it was the big hope, the United States.  When the United States would come, we'd basically have freedom," said Etemadi.                                        

He enjoyed the job, using words, not weapons to fight for freedom for his country. A place he says was torn by violence, bloodshed and the Taliban.

Etemadi took many photos and videos. They captured many of his missions and memories of his friendship with American soldiers during his seven years working for the U.S.

Working shoulder to shoulder with American soldiers, he says the work was extremely dangerous.

He lost a dozen friends, soldiers and three fellow translators. Two were killed by IED's and one he says was beheaded by the Taliban because he worked for the U.S.

"It was emotional. It was bad. We were trying to find a way so we can survive so it wouldn't happen to us," said Etemadi.

Today, Etemadi is a college student and works in security for an online company.

He says starting over is hard, but he's now working with the group "No One Left Behind," a non-profit that helps Afghans and Iraqis who risked their lives working for the U.S. government resettle in the United States.

"We're trying to give back to the guys who risked everything for us," said Bobbie Preston, C.O.O. of No One Left Behind.

The group supplies necessities such as clothing as well as resume writing, job training and other support for Afghan immigrants.

A U.S. war veteran whose life was saved by his translator started the non-profit.   

Etemadi says he chose to settle in the Bay Area because it feels a bit like home.

"A big Afghan community is here. You're feeling like you're back. Maybe not like Afghanistan,  but you are in a community," said Etemadi.

He says Thanksgiving is not a holiday in the Afghan culture. But he is celebrating this Thanksgiving because he has much to be grateful for.

Etemadi hopes to work for the State Department as a diplomat and get his American citizenship.

For more information, go to the No One Left Behind San Francisco Facebook page.