Worth Sharing

WS

Stories That Matter

# Heroes

Iraqi Teen Finally Meets US Soldier Who Whisked Her Out of Iraq 18 Years Ago (WATCH)

avatar By Jeanne Goddard

01 Jun 2015 24 views
Size Print
Email
Iraqi Teen Finally Meets US Soldier Who Whisked Her Out of Iraq 18 Years Ago (WATCH)
She lived her whole life happily in Atlanta, but if not for the spontaneous actions of a soldier at the U.S. border, her life would be drastically different.

 

Thanks to the spontaneous actions of a US soldier, Lava Barwari was able to live her entire life, happily, in Atlanta, Georgia.

If it weren't for Greg Peppin, her life would have been drastically different.

In 1996, the child's mother, a Kurdish woman on Saddam Hussein "kill list", had been offered asylum in the United States, but found her daughter missing from the list when she arrived at the border.

That's when Lt. Colonel Peppin stepped in and claimed her as his own so she could get into the country.

Peppin's plan worked.

Now 18, Lava Barwari was graduating from her high school and in honor of the occasion, she set out to track down the soldier who brought her here–and found him.

All three treasured the reunion. Awaz Barwari, mother of the girl said, "You saved the day for us."

(WATCH the video above  or READ the story from WPVI-TV News)

Tags:
avatar

About author

More posts

# Heroes

Stunned Principal Surprised With "Oscars of Teaching" Award- WATCH

Connecticut principal Desi Nesmith had no idea that the special school assembly he orchestrated to honor an educator with $25,000 was actually a surprise event set-up to honor his own achievements. First there was shock, and then tears started to flow after his name was announced as the winner of the national Milken Educator Award.

# Heroes

Most Influential Adult at Trinity High School? The Janitor.

Perhaps no adult employed at Trinity High School has had more influence over students or changed more young lives than Charles Clark, the school's custodian. Clark has mentored countless kids in need of a father figure at the Texas high school, even housing several of them in his home over the years. In the beginning, he took the custodial position thinking he would keep it until he found something better, but 24 years later, he still hasn't found it. Now Clark, 63, has bested more than 400 teachers, administrators and school district employees from 33 states to become the LifeChanger of the Year Grand Prize Winner.

# Heroes

Latina Sisters Aimed High, Defying Low Expectations

For the few Latino students living in Lincoln, Nebraska in the 1960's, the school's expectations were low. The high school counselor told Linda Hernandez not to take the SAT or ACT tests because she was Hispanic. Luckily, her brother marched into the school and told the counselors, My sisters will take the test.

# Heroes

Hero Anti-mob Cop Uses His Past to Help Vets With Post-traumatic Stress

Bob Delaney, an undercover cop who infiltrated the Genovese and Bruno crime families in the 1970's, knows what it's like to feel the stress of being alone and helpless, as if no one else understands. That's one of the curses of post-traumatic stress disorder, an anxiety that develops in response to a traumatic period. The 60-year-old hero cop has harnessed that experience for another career, helping the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars coping with PTSD.

You might be interested in

Be the first to comment

Leave a Comment

Recent Stories
  • A Heartfelt Reminder to Appreciate the Ones We Love
    05 Sep 48 Views
  • Cherish the Woman Who Stands by You
    05 Sep 65 Views
  • Breaking Generational Cycles of Pain
    05 Sep 60 Views
  • Living by Your Own Values, Not Others' Approval
    05 Sep 69 Views
  • When Life Brings Rain, It’s Okay to Rest
    05 Sep 393 Views
  • Before You Judge Someone's Life, Take a Moment to Walk in Their Shoes.
    05 Sep 176 Views