Mahoning Valley - Prior to the fall of Afghanistan Rick Stockburger and Matt Carpenter served in the Army National Guard training Afghan Nationals to for Infantry combat missions against terrorists.

 

They worked on a mission that partnered with Hungary, as combat advisors to train Afghan National Army troops.

Their Afghan interpreters bridged the communication gap.

"Matt and I will tell you we would probably not be alive today if it wasn't for those guys said," Stockburger.

"I got into some pretty rough spots. I trusted these men with my life," added Carpenter.

They add when they went home after serving our country, the Afghan Nationals continued fighting and dying for 20 years,  with a promise by our country that they would have freedom for their families, and that our country would take care of them.

Carpenter emphasized, "These are people that wore the American Uniform into combat many  times over. You hear people thanking our us for our service. I think how can you not thank them for their service. These people have been in combat, more combat than almost any of us by a long shot."

But when it became evident that that Kabul had fallen and that Afghan Nationals who served in the U.S. war on terrorism, Rick and Matt started getting desperate calls.

 

Working for the US and NATO allies like Hungary puts Afghan Nationals and their families lives at risk.

Stockburger said, "My first message was from an Afghan Interpreter who lost his family. The Taliban had came and murdered his family. There was a lot of desperation."

"I was very fortunate we had a strong group of friends. I was working on the same issue as Matt, and so were other people." said Stockburger.

Through social media, and working with others almost around the clock for about 12 days, the two connected again, made new high level connections.

With help from Intelligence on the ground they were able to help get at least 150 people or around 35 families past Taliban check points.

"Most specifically being able to communicate with Hungarian forces inside and British forces inside Hamid Karzi International Airport, They finally did a grab mission to be able to get them into the airport,

They needed to be able to get on a manifest to apply for refugee status to Hungary and eventually we are working to bring them here through she Special Immigration Visa process," added Stockburger.

Stockburger added, "We were able to communicate through relationships with Congressman Tim Ryan, Anthony Gonzales and Senator Rob Portman to try to get things moving through the U.S. side. It was really just a couple of us had high level connections in our group that were able to give us information on how to navigate them."


"Our guys sat outside gates with soldiers yelling at them telling them to go home when they're hearing from somebody 25 meters behind them they're trying to get the list to the gates that our guys were on. It was a lot of fortitude and long nights. It really was life or death for our guys,: said Stockburger.

"We got very lucky because there are hundreds, thousands of veterans just like us that didn't get that outcome," emphasized Stockburger.


Matt Carpenter talks about other veterans who are still working to try and get Afghan Nationals they served with to safety.

Carpenter added, "We were not completely successful. ... I think a there will be a lot of messages. They are going to get these messages from their friends over there too. Then they're not going to get them."

"It seems like the rest of the world wants to get past this, and winter's not that far away there. Where's the help? Are we going to help the people, get them out, or are we going to leave them there.
Something needs to change," emphasized Carpenter.

Now that they are in Hungary the Afghan refugees have nothing. Rick and Matt are asking others to help get their Afghan brothers on their feet and with the immigration process.

They explained that some of the Afghan Nationals that helped in our country's war against terrorism were nurses, professors, people who had jobs and cars, and homes, but they have lost all of that.

Carpenter said, "They are great people. They are an honorable culture. I hope people remember that when the get here. They need a lot of support and a lot of empathy."

Stockburger emphasized, "As far as refugees these guys fought with Americans for 20 years. They deserve to be Americans, their families deserve to be Americans."

The GoFundMe site to help them help their Afghan friends get on thier feet and to help pay for the Special Immigration Visas is called
Assisting Afghan Interpreter and Families.