{"id":56196,"date":"2021-08-28T21:23:56","date_gmt":"2021-08-28T21:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/08\/28\/hi-mom-im-fine-how-one-afghan-interpreter-escaped\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:24:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:24:56","slug":"hi-mom-im-fine-how-one-afghan-interpreter-escaped","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2021\/08\/28\/hi-mom-im-fine-how-one-afghan-interpreter-escaped\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Hi mom, I\u2019m fine\u2019: How one Afghan interpreter escaped"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the course of 48 hours between Wednesday and Friday, Lisette Bonano, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, was sick with worry about a man who calls her \u201cmom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At first there was some good news. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/afghanistan\/2021\/08\/16\/informal-group-of-troops-vets-working-to-help-afghans-seeking-refuge-in-us\/\" target=\"_blank\">An ad hoc group of volunteers <\/a>helped guide the man, who worked with her as an interpreter in Afghanistan a decade ago, to the relative safety of Hamid Karzai International Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTeam America help me a lot to get there,\u201d said the man, Tawfiq, in a message to Military Times Wednesday night. Earlier in the week, Military Times passed along his contact information to Team America, the ad hoc group, who went on to guide him safely to HKIA. It is one of several groups working to save Afghans and Americans left behind as the Taliban swept across Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Team America \u201ccoordinate with US forces at the airport and direct through a safe route where there was no Taliban,\u201d said Tawfiq, who is not being identified out of concern for retaliation by the Taliban since he still has family left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But after the deadly explosion that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2021\/08\/28\/here-are-the-names-of-the-13-service-members-who-died-in-afghanistan-attack\/\" target=\"_blank\">killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 170 Afghans<\/a> Thursday, there were no more messages from Tawfiq. No way to know if he was alive or dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bonano was frantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then at 11:33 p.m. Friday night, Bonano received a hopeful sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTawfiq\u2019s FB msgr was displayed as green just now, but still no response,\u201d she said in a message to Military Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Minutes later, that hopeful sign turned into a happy reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe just texted!!!! Praise Adonai!!!!! ,\u201d Bonano messaged Military Times. \u201cTawfiq: Hi mom I am fine how are you? We are in Qatar right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI was actually walking like a zombie \u2014 didn\u2019t know how what to think,\u201d said Bonano of the hours of waiting and worrying. \u201cWas going to ask Afghans still there to see if there was a list of the deceased. Didn\u2019t have to!<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2021\/08\/27\/just-one-more-inside-the-massive-military-community-effort-to-save-afghans\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zachmartin.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">\u2018Just one more\u2019: Inside the massive military community effort to save Afghans<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Thousands of veterans have worked tirelessly to evacuate Afghans and Americans from Kabul. Even when the last flight leaves next week they vow to continue.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Saving souls<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About 6,800 people were evacuated Friday from Kabul in 32 U.S. military aircraft and 34 coalition aircraft. Maj Gen. Hank Taylor said at a Saturday Pentagon press briefing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cToday, I can report an updated total evacuation that is more than 117,000, the vast majority of which are Afghan,\u201d said Taylor. Of this total number, approximately 5,400 are American citizens. This is an incredible number of people who are now safer thanks to the heroism of the young men and women who are putting their lives on the line each day to evacuate American and vulnerable Afghans. \u2026 Threats to our forces and to this operation remain real and significant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/amp\/s\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/08\/24\/us\/politics\/afghanistan-evacuations-kabul-airport.amp.html\" target=\"_blank\">tens if not hundreds of thousands<\/a> more Afghans who helped the U.S. and allies remain behind, frustrating many current and former service members and government officials who have created private rescue networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The effort to save Tawfiq was part of that massive digital underground railroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tawfiq was frantic and confused after returning to Afghanistan from the U.S. just days before the Taliban began their dramatic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2021\/08\/16\/game-over-westerners-rush-to-leave-kabul-rescue-afghans\/\">sweep<\/a> of the country, trapping him in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like thousands of fellow Afghans who helped the U.S. during the 20-year conflict in his home country, he was worried about what would happen once America left. But the speed at which the Taliban <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2021\/08\/15\/taliban-enter-kabul-await-peaceful-transfer-of-power\/\">closed<\/a> off the country left him with few options. So, he called Bonano, an American contractor he worked with in Gardez years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe was always there right by my side,\u201d Bonano said. \u201cWe had a great relationship, he was always very loyal to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not knowing exactly what to do, Bonano began reaching out frantically to anyone she thought could help. That included Military Times, which sent Tawfiq\u2019s information to Team America, which helped guide Tawfiq safely to HKIA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During Saturday\u2019s briefing, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told Military Times that such efforts have proven helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo the degree that they have brought to light information that we can act upon, to get additional people out, of course, that\u2019s been helpful,\u201d Kirby said. \u201cWe certainly share the concerns that these groups have for these individuals. We feel the same obligation that they do to it. So, to the degree they\u2019ve been able to help us latch on and identify that, yes, that\u2019s been helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kirby said the State Department has been doing the bulk of communicating with outside groups like Team America and others. DoD has been \u201cprimarily responsible for helping provide that secure area of the airport, for them to be able to get through the process and get through to properly manifest them and to get them on flights out of there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think a lot of us are getting emails and calls and texts from friends and colleagues, many of them are veterans, who are passing information to us to try to help get additional people out. We\u2019re doing the best we can when we are contacted to get that information to the right stream, to the right people on the ground there at the airport, to continue to facilitate movement,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd, as the general said, we\u2019re going to try to facilitate movement of evacuees right up until the very end.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Bleaker prospects<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe situation on the ground continues to be extremely dangerous, and the threat of terrorist attacks on the airport remains high,\u201d President Joe Biden said in a statement issued Saturday afternoon. \u201cOur commanders informed me that an attack is highly likely in the next 24-36 hours. I directed them to take every possible measure to prioritize force protection, and ensured that they have all the authorities, resources and plans to protect our men and women on the ground. They assured me that they did, and that they could take these measures while completing the mission and safely retrograding our personnel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite all the efforts, there are those left behind. Including some of Tawfiq\u2019s family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI brought one of my brother with his family with me but still one left behind,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zachmartin.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-85062\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zachmartin.jpg.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zachmartin.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zachmartin.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zachmartin.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zachmartin.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zachmartin.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zach Martin, a former Army officer and &#8220;Battle Captain&#8221; with &#8220;Team America&#8221; works on getting evacuees aboard Hamid Karzai International Airport. Photo by James R. Webb.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saturday morning, Team America had to share an unhappy message with another person seeking to help an Afghan helper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThanks for writing,\u201d Team America responded. \u201cThis is such a heart-wrenching story for all of us. Unfortunately, right now the only people being admitted to the airport are those with US passports or green cards. I encourage you to have them apply for a P2 Visa via the State Department. I\u2019m so sorry there is not more we can do to evacuate them immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked whether Team America and other groups should continue operating \u2014 given the security problems on the ground and the U.S. troops starting to pack up to meet Biden\u2019s imposed Aug. 31 Afghanistan departure deadline \u2014 Kirby said that was up to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m certainly not for us to tell them to stop caring about individuals that they know are in Afghanistan,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Team America, as with many of the other organizations, it remains Charlie Mike, regardless of the odds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe came to this effort without ego or arrogance \u2014 we do not know better than each individual Afghan family what is best for them right now,\u201d said Kirsten Clodfelter, a Team America team lead. \u201cOur role has been to bring a torch in the dark \u2014 what info can we provide or clarify, what specific support can we offer, what coordination can we facilitate between allied orgs or other actors to support getting someone to the gate at the right time with what they need and then get on a plane to safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs the window closes to help evacuate people from HKIA, there\u2019s no shortage of facilitation, support and advocacy work that still needs to be done.\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A small success story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":95125,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":65,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,13,24,89,16,26,65],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3237,6480],"class_list":["post-56196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-flashpoints","category-home","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"C3TOHT4SIBHKRES6YU32Q4Y5BA","arc_canonical_url":"\/flashpoints\/afghanistan\/2021\/08\/28\/hi-mom-im-fine-how-one-afghan-interpreter-escaped\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented 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