God Bless You Soldier
Sympathetic soldier brings Iraqi boy home
February 20, 2005
MAUSTON, Wis. -- When Capt. Scott Southworth took his soldiers to a Baghdad orphanage in 2003 to befriend the children, a small boy with cerebral palsy immediately returned the favor, crawling across the floor to sit next to him.
"By the time we left that first day, he was trying to take off my watch or to do anything he could to keep me from leaving the orphanage," Southworth said.
More than a year later, Southworth has made a return trip to Iraq and brought 11-year-old Ala'a back to Wisconsin, where Southworth now works as a district attorney.
Iraqi law won't allow Southworth to adopt Ala'a, but he was able to bring the boy home last month under a "humanitarian parole" that lets him make sure the boy gets medical care and goes to school.
Southworth, 32, who is single, knew the alternative for Ala'a was life in a government orphanage with little chance of adequate medical care or an education.
Ala'a understands both Arabic and English, but must use a wheelchair and can't fully use his arms.
When he served in Iraq from June 2003 to July 2004 as head of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 32nd Military Police Company, Southworth visited the Mother Teresa Orphanage in Baghdad a few times a week for several months.
He says Ala'a "really adopted me." Then he learned the orphanage would eventually transfer Ala'a to a government facility for older children and adults.
"One of the Iraqi doctors told me that if Ala'a went there, there was a good chance his life was over -- and that wasn't just because he'd be warehoused in a room; he meant his life might be 'over,'" Southworth said.
When he returned home last summer, Southworth launched his campaign for district attorney and his effort to bring Ala'a home.
"Humanitarian parole is very rare," he said. "I don't know if there has been another case like this."
Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton offered to help with letters of recommendation, as did Sen. Russ Feingold and Rep. Mark Green. Wisconsin doctors promised to provide free medical care for Ala'a, who isn't eligible for Southworth's health insurance.
A few weeks after he started his new job Jan. 3, Southworth learned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had approved the humanitarian parole, and he soon was on his way to Iraq.
Ala'a was waiting for him at the Baghdad airport. Humanitarian parole lasts a year, but Southworth says it can be extended or other immigration possibilities will be available.
Now Ala'a is enrolled in middle school, and already has two friends.
"I think I've been the lucky one," Southworth said. "He's making my life more fulfilling. I think, maybe, my lifestyle used to be focused on me. Now I have someone else to focus on."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/02/20/sympathetic_soldier_brings_iraqi_boy_home/
---It never ceases to amaze me our capacity to show mercy on others. I only wish it were ALWAYS that way. What a true hero. Both of them.---
February 20, 2005
MAUSTON, Wis. -- When Capt. Scott Southworth took his soldiers to a Baghdad orphanage in 2003 to befriend the children, a small boy with cerebral palsy immediately returned the favor, crawling across the floor to sit next to him.
"By the time we left that first day, he was trying to take off my watch or to do anything he could to keep me from leaving the orphanage," Southworth said.
More than a year later, Southworth has made a return trip to Iraq and brought 11-year-old Ala'a back to Wisconsin, where Southworth now works as a district attorney.
Iraqi law won't allow Southworth to adopt Ala'a, but he was able to bring the boy home last month under a "humanitarian parole" that lets him make sure the boy gets medical care and goes to school.
Southworth, 32, who is single, knew the alternative for Ala'a was life in a government orphanage with little chance of adequate medical care or an education.
Ala'a understands both Arabic and English, but must use a wheelchair and can't fully use his arms.
When he served in Iraq from June 2003 to July 2004 as head of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 32nd Military Police Company, Southworth visited the Mother Teresa Orphanage in Baghdad a few times a week for several months.
He says Ala'a "really adopted me." Then he learned the orphanage would eventually transfer Ala'a to a government facility for older children and adults.
"One of the Iraqi doctors told me that if Ala'a went there, there was a good chance his life was over -- and that wasn't just because he'd be warehoused in a room; he meant his life might be 'over,'" Southworth said.
When he returned home last summer, Southworth launched his campaign for district attorney and his effort to bring Ala'a home.
"Humanitarian parole is very rare," he said. "I don't know if there has been another case like this."
Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton offered to help with letters of recommendation, as did Sen. Russ Feingold and Rep. Mark Green. Wisconsin doctors promised to provide free medical care for Ala'a, who isn't eligible for Southworth's health insurance.
A few weeks after he started his new job Jan. 3, Southworth learned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had approved the humanitarian parole, and he soon was on his way to Iraq.
Ala'a was waiting for him at the Baghdad airport. Humanitarian parole lasts a year, but Southworth says it can be extended or other immigration possibilities will be available.
Now Ala'a is enrolled in middle school, and already has two friends.
"I think I've been the lucky one," Southworth said. "He's making my life more fulfilling. I think, maybe, my lifestyle used to be focused on me. Now I have someone else to focus on."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/02/20/sympathetic_soldier_brings_iraqi_boy_home/
---It never ceases to amaze me our capacity to show mercy on others. I only wish it were ALWAYS that way. What a true hero. Both of them.---
posted by Christy at 12:56 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home