BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – A Buffalo man who has helped care for two Afghani refugees shared his story of the two men he helped transition into life in America after they fled from Afghanistan over a decade ago.
In 2009, Danny Irwin brought in two Afghani refugees. We were asked to withhold their identities due to concerns for their safety and the safety of their families who are still in Afghanistan, which is now under Taliban rule.
"They were interpreters," Irwin said. "They would go into towns and villages and negotiate with each of the heads of the villages. Or, if the marines or army was camped out or on the move…my guys used to stay up at night and listen to the radio chatter and listen to the Taliban."
The refugees, who Irwin would describe during our interview as his boys and his sons, would warn US troops about any Taliban activity. We were unable to interview either of his boys due to scheduling conflicts.
His boys came to the United States at the young age of 19 and 20. Irwin previously worked with local groups to find housing for veterans.
Through his connections, he was given the opportunity to help assist the two men with transitioning to life in America.
But it was not an easy transition for the two. Not only did the boys at that age have to learn how to navigate the community in a bus, they were unfamiliar with things most of us take for granted, such as using common kitchen utensils, what a subway was, or even what a car wash was.
"We really started from scratch," Irwin said. "We had to get their transcripts from Afghanistan for high school and then I got them into community college. After that, they went to a university in town and they got their degrees and graduated with honors."
It was also difficult for the boys to transition due to the injuries they suffered while assisting US troops. One of his sons lost part of his leg from an IED. The other lost an eye.
There were also the emotional scars from war which manifested into an uncomfortable situation for popular local events like fireworks shows. They were also initially uncomfortable visiting some businesses and seeing bicyclists near the Elmwood Village due to their previous encounters with suicide bombers.
Today, the two refugees are both married and living in different parts of the country. One of Irwin's boys has a son.
"They've done some really great things," Irwin said.
After the Taliban seized the country following 20 years of occupation by the United States, Irwin said his refugee sons were disgusted by what happened.
"They're very afraid and afraid for their families," Irwin said. "They don't know if they can ever go back. They don't even have a US Embassy. How are they going to get in the country to get them out? They feel like they'll never see their families."
Irwin said his boys consistently told him how much they love the United States and the dangers of what would happen if the US left.
"Now it's come true," he said.
Irwin wants people to know that the Taliban is not Afghanistan and that those of the Muslim faith are peaceful people.
"Like one of my kids used to say to me, he used to say in his broken accent 'Dan, they wash brain,' meaning brainwash," Irwin said. "We get crazy people. I mean, look at Timothy McVeigh…you have extremists anywhere and you're going to have that in the Muslim religion. It's a beautiful, peaceful religion. They're against killing. If you kill someone, you go to hell."
LISTEN TO OUR FULL INTERVIEW WITH IRWIN BELOW
