Combat interpreter, family arrive in Charlotte after Afghanistan evacuation

CHARLOTTE — Combat interpreter “Johnny” and his family arrived in Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon after being evacuated from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, thanks to The Independent Fund and the community.

Nearly 200 Afghan refugees are expected to arrive in Charlotte over the next few months. Many of them served as interpreters or aided the U.S. military during the Afghanistan War.

Johnny is among the Afghan combat interpreters evacuated from Afghanistan after the collapse of the government in August.

Johnny, his wife, and three daughters will make their home in North Carolina, where many of Johnny’s 82nd Airborne Division brothers live.

“I was trying to help my people back in Afghanistan, my country, the U.S. forces,” Johnny said Wednesday.

[ALSO READ: ‘We have no housing’: Hundreds of Afghan refugees coming to Charlotte need place to live]

He served as a combat interpreter for six years and is relieved to have his family in the U.S. Johnny helped U.S. troops adapt and survive in the Afghan culture, which included everything from what to eat and areas to avoid.

Sen. Thom Tillis also welcomed Johnny and his family.

Tillis said his office and other senators are still working to get hundreds of people out of Afghanistan and to the U.S.

(Watch the video below: Afghan interpreter living in Charlotte speaks about crisis in his home country)

Afghan interpreter living in Charlotte speaks about crisis in his home country

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