Interpreters Wanted

Description

Interpreters Wanted – a story 14 years in the making – centers around Saifullah Haqmal and his brother Ismail, educated Afghan men who choose to work with U.S. forces as interpreters, and Robert Ham, one of the Soldiers they befriended in their years of service to the United States. As Robert’s deployment comes to an end, Saifullah and Ismail’s support to U.S. forces continue for years afterward – living in the combat zone of Afghanistan isn’t a one-year tour for them, it’s their day-to-day life. As the Taliban threat to the Haqmal brothers’ lives grows more urgent, their communication with their old friend Robert becomes more desperate, as they wait years for their Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) approval. As Afghanistan’s elected government enters its final days, and the country crumbles around them, see the struggle one interpreter has to escape as the Taliban close in. This compelling story is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by these interpreters and the struggles they faced – and a stark reminder of our obligations to the people who put themselves in harms’ way to support our operations.