By JILL FANKHAUSER
Alaska Star

For Hatem Saaed March is coming fast. That is when he leaves his wife, Hayat, and 8-year old son, Mohammed, for basic training in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Hatem and his family, who are from Iraq, moved to Peters Creek early last year, after escaping interrogation and threats from anti-American insurgents. Hatem was given a special U.S. visa available to Iraqi and Afghan people who helped American military forces in the Middle East.

Hatem Saaed holds his son Mohammed and sits with wife Hayat. The family moved to Peters Creek last winter from Baghdad, Iraq. Hatem joined the U.S. Army Reserves and will leave for boot camp and linguist school in South Carolina in March. He will be away from his family until July. He said it's likely he will be deployed to Iraq as a Arabic and English translator soon after training. Star Photo By Jill Fankhauser

“I belong to the Army now,” he said. “I feel nervous as the day gets closer, but it’s another adventure. I need to go through this.”

Hatem originally worked as an electrical engineer in Baghdad. When the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 he worked as a communications and infrastructure analyst for the U.S. military’s Corps of Engineers.

His work was somewhat secretive - Hatem said didn’t know who he could trust or if someone would turn him. He even provided his extended family a false story that he worked in Jordan in case insurgents interrogated them - which occurred. His sister was once held captive while insurgents tried to get information about Hatem’s affiliation with the Americans.

That incident and others like it prompted Hatem to go to U.S. Security Forces for help.

Hatem said he worked with the Americans, a dangerous endeavor, because it was something he believed in. Iraq, he said, needed to be rebuilt after Saddam Hussein’s regime and the war.

By enlisting Hatem hopes to expedite his U.S. citizenship and eventually bring his parents to America. He could become a citizen in three years instead of five, Hatem said, and then would be able to sponsor other family members, such as his parents, to immigrate from Iraq to the U.S.

If he does go back to Iraq, it would most likely be as a translator for the Americans, he said. There are many nuances in both languages; his skills in English and Arabic would help both sides communicate more successfully, he said.

Currently Hatem is an electrical engineer working for a contractor on Elmendorf Air Force Base. He is working hard on improving his language skills and adjusting to life in Alaska. His family has gotten used to the Alaska weather and are making friends here - but it’s going to be tough to separate from his son and wife, Hatem said.

Mohammed Salem, 8, son of recent Iraqi immigrant Hatem Saaed, spells out his name on the family refrigerator. Mohammed, a third grader at Chugiak Elementary, is excelling in English. His parents often speak Arabic at home so Mohammed doesn't forget his first language. Star Photo By Jill Fankhauser

One of the most important skills he wants his wife and son to have is confidence in speaking English.

Hayat worked with Nine Star, an Anchorage nonprofit that offers programs in English as a second language. She was also working with a tutor an hour a week last summer, but the program wasn’t helping her very much, Hatem said.

Instead Hayat is now learning English on her own with help from a laptop computer and language learning tools.

Although, she’s shy about it, she speaks English with clarity and fluidity.

The language is not the only challenge the family is facing.

Hayat is battling uterine cancer for the third time.

“We are trying to take (the cancer) out. She is under radiation and chemotherapy treatment,” Hatem said.

His wife had a tumor surgically removed Dec. 17 and is now undergoing chemotherapy.

“She had two surgeries in Iraq and this is the third one, and I hope it’s the last one,” he said. “I am working hard with the doctor to make sure she will be good before (my) ship off day.”

Because Hayat has not been feeling well, the winter has been tough, Hatem said. Hayat doesn’t like to leave the house because of the cold.

When friends invite Hatem to go do fun things, like sledding, snowmachining, ice fishing and skiing, he opts to stay home and spend time with his family. Hatem likes to pass the weekends playing with his son Mohammed.

The family has settled into American life well. They have made several friends in Peters Creek, who threw Hatem a birthday party recently - something Hatem and Hayat are still excited about.

“I don’t feel like I’m a stranger here at all,” Hatem said.

Mohammed is in the third grade at Chugiak Elementary School. He has become quite fluent in English as well. He’s only been at American school since last March, so he’s still working on his reading and writing skills, but is doing very well, Hatem said. Mohamed loves gym and math.

“He likes his teachers and everyone knows him in his school,” Hatem said. “He is very independent and likes to associate with his classmates.”

Mohammed is speaking English so well and so often, the family now speaks Arabic at home to help Mohammed remember his first language, which could come in handy later in college or a career, Hatem said.

Hatem is happy - happy to be joining the Army. Not only will he help to rebuild his homeland, he said, but he will also repay the country that helped him, Hayat and Mohammed.

“I love this country and will do my best to service it with honor, even if I know there will be many sacrifices.”

Reach the reporter at jillfankhauser.@alaskastar.com.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, January 22, 2009.