This week’s Tango Alpha Lima podcast, kicking off season six, features special guest Mazin Mozan, an Iraqi who helped U.S. servicemembers during the war and now serves in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Welcome to the sixth season of the award-winning American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast. To celebrate the start of a new year, we’re honored to welcome special guest Mazin Mozan, an Iraqi who helped U.S. troops during the war and now serves in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Throughout his life Mozan has always been driven to help others.
“It was the cause and how I can help,” Mozan said on the new episode of The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast. “It always drove me in life to help others, doing anything I can do to help.”
His journey began when he saw American special forces teams in his hometown in Iraq. Since Mozan knew English, he seized an opportunity to help as an interpreter.
“There were definitely miscommunications happening (due to non-Iraqi interpreters) that caused more enemies and innocent people got caught in the middle,” he said. “You’ve got something you can help with, and I don’t know why you wouldn’t help.”
In return, Americans returned the favor by helping Mozan escape Iraq in 2007, which was unthinkable to him before the war started.
“I left because I had no safe haven in Iraq,” said Mozan, who received one of only 50 Special Immigrant Visas for interpreters. “Leading up until that time, I couldn’t go home because every time I tried I almost got killed or picked up.”
Mozan, trained as a veterinarian, says anyone is able to step up and contribute to a greater cause.
“You gotta help any way you can,” he said. “You have to stay resilient, stay flexible, and as long as you are meeting the goal in your life — serving, doing something bigger than you. Who cares what your title is? You gotta do something bigger to be proud of.”
Also, co-hosts Stacy Pearsall, Adam Marr and Joe Worley:
• Dish on pizza and other food topics.
• Reveal a fish tale you won’t believe.
• Chat about the end of the SIV program, which Mozan credited with his escape from Iraq.
Check out the nearly 300 Tango Alpha Lima podcasts available in both audio and video formats here. You can also download episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify other major podcast-hosting sites. The video version is available at the Legion’s YouTube channel.
- Tango Alpha Lima