|
|
Chuck R. Butler, Jr., 33 Named to Georgia Trend 40 under 40
Chatsworth
Founder
Combat Brothers Chuck Butler’s life exemplifies service, first as an officer in the Murray County Sheriff’s Department and again when he donated his bone marrow to a young woman, whom he’d never met, suffering from leukemia. In 2004, Butler volunteered for the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, training members of the Iraqi Police Force in Basra. Members of Butler’s team suffered an attack in January 2007, which killed two Americans and severely wounded their Iraqi language assistant, Ayad Majeed. Knowing Majeed was a marked man, “It became my mission to get Ayad out of Iraq,” Butler says. With help from Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Catholic Charities, Butler became Majeed’s sponsor through the U.S. Refugee Program, making him the first American to sponsor an Iraqi refugee who was not a family member. Majeed arrived in Georgia in February 2008. They are working to get Majeed’s wife and three children out of Iraq. The two men formed Combat Brothers, a speaker’s service, to tell their story of courage and brotherhood. – PR Combat Brothers thank Senator Saxby Chambliss for his help in getting Ayad accepted as a refugee. Picture taken of Combat Brothers speaking at the Murray County G.O.P. Convention March 15,2008  Wednesday March 12,2008 Savoring Freedoms
By SHAKA S. LIAS
shaka.lias@chatsworthtimes.com
By now Ayad Mohammed Majeed has tasted a lot of things in his 33 years of life. But nothing was as sweet as what he tasted on Feb. 26 -freedom.
"Freedom is a different thing I never taste before," said Majeed.
Thanks to Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss, the Murray County Republican Party, and Chatsworth resident Chuck Butler, Majeed, a native of Iraq, is now living in Murray County. He was granted permission to in November.
"The refugee program is intended for individuals who need asylum because their lives are in danger and that was certainly the case here," Sen. Chambliss said. "Mr. Majeed is fortunate to have so many people looking out for him and who are willing to help him come to the United States to make a better life for himself."
"I'm very proud to be brought here and to be accepted as a member of this great country," Majeed said. Butler, who considers Majeed his brother, says that the feeling is mutual.
Majeed and Butler met during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Butler served as a member of the Surveillance Police Assistance Training Team while Majeed served as a language assistant. Though dangerous for a native Iraqi to help Americans, Majeed said he enjoyed translating Iraqi language for Americans and did so proudly until a fatal accident in January 2006.
Majeed was in a convoy returning from a trip to the American Embassy when a roadside bomb exploded, killing the navigator and driver. Majeed, who was riding in the lead vehicle, lost his right arm and nearly his left wrist, which he said was close to falling off.
"I lost two of my brothers that day," Majeed said of his American co-workers whom he considered family.
After the accident Majeed was transferred to a British hospital for treatment; after five days he was fired by the private contracting company and kicked out of the hospital.
Butler said the company fired all of the interpreters because the job was too dangerous.
Majeed said he was told, "Your company can't do anything so we can't do anything for you, you have to go."
Majeed said he had to sell his equipment to help pay for his operation. Butler and Majeed's co-workers also helped to raise money for the operation.
After the accident Majeed said his life was in even more danger.
Majeed said there are some malicious people over there that are looking for people to try and kill.
"Not try, actually, most of them (are) being killed," Majeed said. He said there is always a chance that you are on the list. The list he is referring to is a list of people that are to be killed. Their lives and families are in danger.
He said after the accident he received a tip from a friend, "They put you on the list to be killed so be careful."
Majeed took that tip seriously, "I didn't have enough money to run away so I moved my family to another house," Majeed said of his wife and three young kids.
But just moving was not enough. "The corruption there and killing is done most of the time by police," Majeed said.
Majeed said he stayed inside 24 hours a day. "You don't go out and always keep your weapons beside you just in case someone try to attack you," he said.
Majeed said it was hard living in fear like that. "The first chance I got I ran away to Jordan and contacted Chuck."
Butler said he knew Majeed's life was in danger, and wanted to get him out. That's when he contacted John Arb, chairman of the Murray County Republican Party and Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
Chambliss said he was happy to help. “I am always happy to assist constituents in navigating the federal process according (to) their situations. I believe the government’s decision to grant Mr. Majeed refugee status was based on the merits of his very compelling case," Chambliss said.
Arb, has never met Majeed but says he's looking forward to it and is glad Majeed is here.
"He worked hard to appreciate what we're trying to do over there," Arb said.
Arb, who is a good friend of Butler, said he was impressed at the stories of how Majeed saved Butler's life.
Butler says he never questioned Majeed's loyalty to him. Butler said many times Majeed's advice saved his life.
Majeed would recommend a certain route and tell Butler, along with the other surveillance Police Assistants how long they should stay in certain places.
"If he said stay there five or 20 minutes, we never questioned him," Butler said.
"He saved the lives of myself and friends many times."
So why did Majeed decide to risk his life for others?
"I'll be lying if I say it's the first thing," Majeed said. Adding that there are not many choices in Iraq. He said sure he thought about the dangers but,” I have a wife and kids I have to feed."
These are the types of unselfish acts Chambliss appreciates, "His efforts to assist Americans in Iraq demonstrate that he cares deeply not just for the United States but also for the values for which we stand," the Senator said.
Majeed said he would like to think he was doing something for his country and working at the same time.
Majeed, who has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, said his family had expectations for him.
"In Iraq when you go to college lots of people depend on you", Majeed said. Like his father who told him, "You need to get a degree so you can build your future."
As a little boy Majeed always dreamed of becoming an engineer. He was also interested in the English language, Majeed learned English in one year and brags about his skills.
"In 12th grade I always made good grades in English," Majeed reminisced. "I loved English from the beginning. Majeed said he's looking forward to starting his new life here in America.
"I heard it's hard living in America until you want something to do, so I think I need to work hard to achieve what I need to do."
Majeed said he plans to find a good job, build a good life and show some appreciation for being here.
"I can't thank people by words so I need to do something else to make them proud of me," he said.
He said he's excited about finally having freedom, but he misses his family.
With Butler's help they are working on getting his wife and kids over here, the process is expected to take at least two years.
In the meantime Majeed said he's happy they are safe. Through the internet and voice chat he talks to them all the time.
"The internet makes the whole world a small village," Majeed said.
Since coming to Chatsworth, Majeed has experienced grits, gravy and biscuits for the first time and a trip to Wal-Mart. "It's a nice place to shop," he said of the retail giant.
As for his arm, Majeed said he's fine for now. He doesn't have any immediate plans for a prosthetic arm. "When God took this arm I think he gave me the opportunity to use this one," Majeed said of losing his right arm.
He said learning to use his left hand was a challenge, but he's been good so far.
"Sometimes I'm fine and sometimes I need some help with a few things," Majeed said. "But most of the time I can do it by myself."
And that's what he loves the most, the independence and of course freedom.
Majeed said if you can't feel what he's saying about freedom;
"Imagine going to a restaurant and someone took your sandwich from you, you can say hey give it back. I can say what I want without someone saying no you can't say that or I will kill you."
That Majeed said, is freedom.
Shaka Lias
News Reporter, The Chatsworth Times
Sunday March 9,2008
Iraqi enjoys new life in Chatsworth
By Kim Sloan
Dalton Daily Citizen
When Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was in power, voting for Ayad Mohmmad Majeed consisted of checking either “yes” or “no” on a ballot that asked whether you approved of Hussein’s presidency.
And everyone knew to check “yes.”
“The meaning of freedom, we don’t have there,” said Majeed, who has been granted refuge in the United States and is now living in Chatsworth with Chuck Butler.
Butler spent more than a year in Iraq working for Dyncorp International in security. Majeed was an interpreter.
Majeed has lost a lot in a few short years. The vehicle he was in was hit with a roadside bomb on Jan. 16, 2006. Majeed lost his right arm in the blast and has severe injuries to his right forearm. His legs were hit with shrapnel.
A native of Iraq, this is the first time Majeed has been in the United States. But he said he had to get out of Iraq when his life was threatened, leaving behind his wife and three children. He is absorbing American culture like the biscuits he is eating for breakfast absorb the white cream gravy.
Living under Hussein
Majeed, 33, was born in Basra, a city in southern Iraq. He went to school and college there.
Under the reign of Hussein, he saw his friends go to jail for such trivial things as listening to forbidden broadcasts on the radio.
“You can’t move from a city to another city,” Majeed said. “You can’t buy a house in some place until you get permission. The government has the right to take your house if they want.”
When Saddam was overthrown in 2003, there was hope of freedom for the first time.
“The first year was very good,” Majeed said. “People were working and they were improving our lives.”
But soon, Al-Qaida rebels and other militia began terrorizing the country. Their anti-American sentiment led to violence that spilled the blood of innocent Iraqis.
“I think they want to kill Americans,” Majeed said. “But sometimes if you blow up a market of women and children, you are just killing innocent people. Someone can be killed for 50 bucks. That has nothing to do with Americans.”
Majeed voted in the first elections ever held in Iraq on Jan. 30, 2005. People stood in long lines and were often told about the threat of violence, he said.
“There was an 88 percent turnout even though their lives were in danger,” Majeed said.
When British soldiers left southern Iraq, Majeed lost his job interpreting for Dyncorp International and was labeled a spy. With his life in danger, he fled to Jordan.
Coming to America
Butler was on vacation when Majeed’s convoy was bombed and he lost his arm. The driver and front passenger in the vehicle were killed and an American medic was also hurt.
“I have a lot of guilt,” Butler said. “I was on vacation. Three months before, I placed him in the vehicle so he could start riding with us.”
Butler and his co-workers began collecting money to help pay for Majeed’s medical expenses. Butler made a promise to get Majeed out of Iraq, writing congressmen and senators in several states.
Majeed made it to Jordan, but there was a chance if he became indigent, he would be kicked out.
“He was saying he wanted to go back to Iraq where he could hide,” Butler said. “I was pushing every day, calling them (congressmen and senators).”
Majeed was asked if he knew anyone in America. He told them about Butler. Butler agreed to provide a place for Majeed to stay.
Butler said Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., was able to secure Majeed’s refugee status.
On Feb. 26 shortly after 10 p.m., Majeed landed at the Atlanta airport.
Life in America
In the few days that Majeed has been in the states, he has learned about the generosity of Americans. Coming here with only the clothes on his back and one other outfit, he now has a closet full of clothes.
Majeed has experienced the freedom of worship, attending church with Butler at First Baptist Church of Chatsworth last Sunday.
And soon, he will experience freedom of speech.
Majeed will speak at Coker Elementary School on March 15 at 9 a.m.
So far, he has only seen Atlanta, Chatsworth, Dalton and some other areas of North Georgia.
His favorite place — Wal-Mart. He enjoys seeing all the merchandise and all the people, he said.
Majeed and Butler are working to get his wife and his sons, who are 6 and 3 and his 5-year-old daughter to America.
He sees himself staying in Chatsworth, even though he is not sure what the future holds and he is still deciding on what kind of work he will do.
And he knows that no matter what, Butler, the man he calls “brother,” will be there to continue to help him.
www.daltondailycitizen.com Ayad Mohammed Majeed arrived into America on 02/26/2008 as a Refugee. Ayad was welcomed into America by his friend Chuck Butler they worked together from 2004 to 2006 in Sounthern Iraq. |
|