Iraqi translator gets help from officers
By TERRY BROWN, Staff writer
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First published: Saturday, May 3, 2008 |
Two state Army National Guard officers recognized an Iraqi woman, who was an Arabic translator for the U.S. Army for more than four years, as deserving to become one of the chosen few to take advantage of a Special Immigrant Visas program. |
Maj. Mathew Tully of Niskayuna and Lt. Col. Robert Milmore of Cornwall-on-Hudson, Orange County, who served together in Iraq several years ago, made it possible for the woman, whose identity has been hidden by the government, to immigrate to the United States.
The woman, who went to work for the Americans right after the U.S. troops toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003, was among those targeted by insurgents, militias and al-Qaida. Additionally, the woman -- along with U.S. Army soldiers -- often came under attack as they went on patrols, raids and convoys in some of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Baghdad.
But the violence came too close once she started getting threats at her home, and she applied for the visa. Milmore helped speed her application and phoned Tully to see whether he would sponsor her and help her become a U.S. citizen.
Tully said yes in a flash.
"There was a clear need for her to get out of Iraq," Tully said during an interview at his Tully, Rinckey & Associates PLLC law firm in Colonie.
Seven months after she applied, she arrived in the U.S. last month. Tully and his wife welcomed her to stay with them, helped her get insurance and a Social Security card and provided her with a job at his law firm.
Deploys back to Iraq
State Army Brig. Gen. David Quantock of Waterford is returning to the war in Iraq.
This time, Quantock has been assigned to serve as deputy commanding general of detainee operations with Multinational Force-Iraq and commanding general of Task Force 134 in Iraq.
He had been serving as commandant of the Army Military Police School and deputy commanding general of the Joint Training and Leader Development at the Army Maneuver Center at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
His previous deployments included duty in Germany, Grenada, Haiti, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Army Guard promotions
State Army National Guard soldiers from Capital Region communities and units have been promoted:
Captain: Kevin Manion, Mechanicville, 206th Military Police Company.
Master sergeant: Dana Harvey, Ballston Spa, 42nd Special Troops Battalion; Patrick Rocco, Saratoga Springs, Headquarters, 42nd Infantry Division; Mark Stevens, Wynantskill, 42nd Special Troops Battalion; and William Werber, Mechanicville, Combat Aviation Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division.
Sergeant first class: Gregory Martin, Latham, 427th Brigade Support Battalion.
Staff sergeant: James Marcello, Athens, Element Joint Force Headquarters; Eduardo Ortizoquendo, Johnstown, Combat Aviation Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division; Nicholas Pardi, Schenectady, 206th Military Police Company; Tiffany Strei, Guilderland, Combat Aviation Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division; Joseph Weidlich, Cobleskill, 206th Military Police Company; and Douglas Zautner, Albany, 206th Military Police Company.
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