Iraqi Translator Finds Home On Homefront

Welcome to America Todd Baker!!
Thank you for putting yourself in harms way to help keep the soldiers safe. That was a very selfless thing to do, so please remember how grateful we are to you and how your military peers appreciate you.
We hope you are able to accomplish all of your American dreams and have a great time doing so.
Best wishes for a long and happy life!!!!!!!!!

Welcome Todd! My nephew was one of the ones you helped and for that I will be forever greatful! God bless you always!

That is sad look what Bush did to are country. In You have evil people that want to keep are country in that. I can't believe it. Sad it sad we have people never went to American schools or speak English But got better jobs then us. SAD thank god for Obama. In the Clinton Bring America bake to there feet

It's so good to hear something positive from this war. Thanks for people like Todd who despite all the negative propaganda regarding Americans in his country, decided to form his own opinion and think for himself. Thanks to KOTV for finding such a positive story.

Welcome to Oklahoma!!! You are in for a little treat. Football (not soccer) in HUGE around here and it towards the end f the season but OU (Norman/Oklahoma city)is more than likly going to play for the National Champ, TU which is here in Tulsa had a good year(for them lol) and OSU and they're main campus is in Stillwater (right down the highway) and they ALSO had a good year. So kick back and give it a shot and go to a game or watch them on TV. You will really like it if you aren't already into it. Like I said it's big here lol most of us are fan for one reason or another.

God bless and welcome to America and most of all Oklahoma!!

way cool story and nice to hear with so much other sadness in the news...way to go!!!

TJuan Davis wrote:

That is sad look what Bush did to are country. In You have evil people that want to keep are country in that. I can't believe it. Sad it sad we have people never went to American schools or speak English But got better jobs then us. SAD thank god for Obama. In the Clinton Bring America bake to there feet

This SAD person took the time to learn TWO languages, you can't even take the time to learn ONE properly !!!!!!! Grow Up

This is a great story and I am glad to see Todd's dreams coming true (trust me - I couldn't be more proud of him and what he has done for our country); however, I must ask....if he has a newly found love for his country now that Suddam is out, why did he come to America instead of stay in Iraq to help his home country and fellow citizen's shape it into a better place for future generations of Iraqi people? His aspirations, and others like him, is exactly what Iraq needs right now. If they all start coming here due to extended hope's and dreams, then what makes Iraq any different than the situation with Mexico? Now that a better life is a reality and not just a dream for most of the Iraqi people, why would they want to turn their back on that. He always wanted a better life and a chance to live to his full potential and now he has that opportunity to either do it there or here and he chooses to come here. If all of the Iraqi people who have this same hope and desire as Todd come here, then who will be left in Iraq to insure that their country does indeed become a free and desired place to visit and live?

Kyle is my brother and he has nothing but good things to say about Todd. Hell my family even took him in for thanksgiving. He is a very nice person and a true war hero. Semper FI

Slapdrum.....If you had a chance to leave a country where the temperature easily gets well over 120 degrees in the shade, and not to mention that fact that people want you dead for helping the Americans wouldn't you leave and come here?

Jason in BA wrote:

Kyle is my brother and he has nothing but good things to say about Todd.**** my family even took him in for thanksgiving. He is a very nice person and a true war hero. Semper FI
Slapdrum.....If you had a chance to leave a country where the temperature easily gets well over 120 degrees in the shade, and not to mention that fact that people want you dead for helping the Americans wouldn't you leave and come here?

First of all, don't get me wrong, I admire what Todd has done for our country and he probably is a great person, if I knew him, I probably would take him in for Thanksgiving to so I could offer my thanks to him, but to answer your question honestly....NO! I would want to stay and fight and do my part to make it a place where future generations won't feel like they have to run here to be safe and would prefer to stay there where it is safe. That is a possibilty for them, but the fight isn't over. It's going to take Todd and more people like him to make it a reality but it can't be a reality for Iraq if they all come here. If all of the hard working, upstanding, freedom loving Americans would have shipped off to Cuba, would America have continued to flourish and prosper? Nope, but Cuba would have. Get my point?

By the way, not sure if your head is in the warm Iraqi sand or not, but look around you. People will want him dead here to along with the rest of us Americans......including you and me! So, esentially, your saying he's running from one place where people want him dead for helping the Americans to another place where people are going to want him even more dead for helping the Americans.....because he will be COMING TO AMERICA!!

You can bat this all around. But still in the end just like every soldier sailor or airmen that has been over there it has to come to and end at sometime. Omar (Todd) he took his own life in his hands to help US personel. If he staid there he would be at risk of losing his life to those that dont want americans there and just like here he could loose his life. But in the end one has to think that Omar sees potential for himself here in the US the greatest nation on this earth. Lets give this man a moment and look what he has done for my fellow solider and what he could have done.

Slapdrum you say that you wold stay but have you been? No when you see death and such there has to be an end

I'm sorry that your home country had to be the brunt of a maniac US president and his cabinet and ends up wrecking a 10,000 year old civilization. But welcome to America and I hope you are treated with respect and help. You took a terrible risk to help the US. At least the moron that has been president of the US for the last 8 miserable and unending years and started the whole mess in Iraq will be gone Jan 20, 2009 - or class it as the "end of an error" with a colossal fool as the head of state. What a loser. Take care and hopefully people treat you with respect and care. Thank you.

Garr wrote:

You can bat this all around. But still in the end just like every soldier sailor or airmen that has been over there it has to come to and end at sometime. Omar (Todd) he took his own life in his hands to help US personel. If he staid there he would be at risk of losing his life to those that dont want americans there and just like here he could loose his life. But in the end one has to think that Omar sees potential for himself here in the US the greatest nation on this earth. Lets give this man a moment and look what he has done for my fellow solider and what he could have done.
Slapdrum you say that you wold stay but have you been? No when you see death and such there has to be an end

I would stay because I beleive in standing up for what I beleive in and no I haven't ever been to Iraq as I am past the age to join the military; however, I am an American who has been taught my whole life to stand up for what I beleive in no matter what the cost as well as support our troops and our cause and I have seen death on many occasion's and live in a country, state, county, city where it is ever so present each day. One does not have to literally go to Iraq to understand the horrific significance of it. Also, I do not rely on the media to paint a picture for me, I have a lot of friends and family who are over there as we speak and I rely on getting the actual story from them. That being said, I have already stated my opinion and my gratitude to Todd on my previous two posts.....you can choose to either understand or not, but either way I'm not going to argue with you.

jonesy67 wrote:

I'm sorry that your home country had to be the brunt of a maniac US president and his cabinet and ends up wrecking a 10,000 year old civilization. But welcome to America and I hope you are treated with respect and help. You took a terrible risk to help the US. At least the moron that has been president of the US for the last 8 miserable and unending years and started the whole mess in Iraq will be gone Jan 20, 2009 - or class it as the "end of an error" with a colossal fool as the head of state. What a loser. Take care and hopefully people treat you with respect and care. Thank you.

That maniac U.S. President you speak of is the one who made it possible for Todd to come here in the first place. If it wasn't for him, Suddam would still be alive and in power. Thus, continually shattering Todd's hopes and dreams of having a better life.

Welcome to America. Oklahoma is the heartland of our country, and we are the proud caretakers of this land.

As you can see, we are able to voice our opinions in any forum..........even if we do not know what we are talking about. That is our America.

Thank you for sacrificing your life to help our soldiers. As Americans, you should know that we have saved many countries from evil rulers throughout time, and all we have ever asked for in return was respect.

In turn, I give you my respect for your heroism in the face of danger. I support our troops 100%, and I thank you for doing the same.

Todd has done a great service for our country & his country. Thank God for men like him who have the guts to stand up for what they believe in. I am so glad that 6 decided to air this uplifting story. Todd has talked about possibly joining the Marines to go back & help his country. In the meantime take time to rest & enjoy life here in the USA. God bless you for all of your help to our servicemen.

Slapdrum wrote:

<quoted text>
I would stay because I beleive in standing up for what I beleive in and no I haven't ever been to Iraq as I am past the age to join the military; however, I am an American who has been taught my whole life to stand up for what I beleive in no matter what the cost as well as support our troops and our cause and I have seen death on many occasion's and live in a country, state, county, city where it is ever so present each day. One does not have to literally go to Iraq to understand the horrific significance of it. Also, I do not rely on the media to paint a picture for me, I have a lot of friends and family who are over there as we speak and I rely on getting the actual story from them. That being said, I have already stated my opinion and my gratitude to Todd on my previous two posts.....you can choose to either understand or not, but either way I'm not going to argue with you.

I understand what you are saying Slapdrum. Maybe he will go back some day and run for an office of some kind, who knows. I hope he comes here and sees that the rest of the the American people are good, respectable, giving people and not what others has made us out to be. I know what you were saying about not leaving Iraq, but maybe he just needed to live in a place where the fear of death isn't constantly hanging over his head. I really hope he does go back one day, he might make a good Iraqi Prime Minister, who knows. Good luck Todd, and Thank you for all that you have done.

mom wrote:

Welcome to America. Oklahoma is the heartland of our country, and we are the proud caretakers of this land.
As you can see, we are able to voice our opinions in any forum..........even if we do not know what we are talking about. That is our America.
Thank you for sacrificing your life to help our soldiers. As Americans, you should know that we have saved many countries from evil rulers throughout time, and all we have ever asked for in return was respect.
In turn, I give you my respect for your heroism in the face of danger. I support our troops 100%, and I thank you for doing the same.

I thought this was really sweet until I got to all the dots.

Slapdrum wrote:

<quoted text>
.......I have seen death on many occasion's and live in a country, state, county, city where it is ever so present each day. One does not have to literally go to Iraq to understand the horrific significance of it. Also, I do not rely on the media to paint a picture for me, I have a lot of friends and family who are over there as we speak and I rely on getting the actual story from them.

I am sure that Todd appreciates your gratitude. But I can't help but wonder where have you seen death all the time. Also last time I checked Tulsa or anywhere in Oklahoma has not fallen victim to senseless car bombings in quite some time. As far as relying on second hand info of what goes on in Iraq is a mistake believe me most people will not share with you the horrors of children with half of their heads blown off because they were standing near a convoy when an IED went off. That is why most troops act slightly different when they return stateside because they can't share these stories with regular people like you and I.

I am not questioning whether or not you would stay and fight because I would stay myself. But after severals years of the same old crap a break might be in order.

Todd if you read this just remember Oklahoma, like anywhere else, is full of stupid rednecks.......but not all of us rednecks are stupid.

Jason in BA I couldn't have put it any better. One can only try to imagine the horrors of living in a war zone & seeing death & destruction for years 24/7: no time to relax & enjoy being with you family because you could be a target at any time.
Only but for the grace of God goes anyone of us, we were blessed to have been born in the USA & not have to grow up under an oppressive government. None of us can truly say what we would do until we are faced with the same circumstances. Talk is cheap!!!

Todd welcome to our family & the USA!!!

Many thankful prayers for what you have done.