An Afghan man who provided translation services for since-retired Marine Maj. Terry Slatic during his tours in Afghanistan, as well as other U.S. troops, told Slatic and PowerTalk 96.7 radio host Trevor Carey on Tuesday that he feared for his life if he had to remain there now that the Taliban have taken over the country.
“You guys are my last hope,” sobbed the man known as “John” by the Americans who teamed with him in the Helmand Province, Bagram Air Base, and other locations. “We just want to leave.”
On Friday, Slatic told GV Wire that the translator has exited Afghanistan and is in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Slatic said that the translator told him he expects to fly to the United States “in three to five days.” Later Friday, Slatic told GV Wire that the translator had landed on the East Coast at 1 a.m. Saturday.
John was among many Afghan nationals who assisted American troops and contractors during the 20-year conflict. Those remaining in country are fearful of being targeted for reprisal by the Taliban.
Related Story: Ex-Marine and Fresno Schools Leader Seeks Safety for Afghanistan Translator
Slatic, a Fresno Unified School Board member, made contact with U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark, and other officials such as Reps. David Valadao (R-Hanford) and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) to help get John out of Afghanistan. He urged the PowerTalk audience to reach out to their congressional representatives, senators, and President Joe Biden with a single message: “Save John.”
Now Slatic is focused on helping bring the translator’s 21-year-old sister out of Kabul to the United States.
