© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Afghan Man, Who Left Kabul As A Child, Returned To Afghanistan As A U.S. Marine

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Time now for StoryCorps. Ajmal Achekzai was 5 years old when his family fled Kabul. It was 1980, after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. They were among the first Afghans to seek asylum in the United States. Ajmal later returned to Afghanistan just after 9/11 as a U.S. Marine. He came to StoryCorps to reflect on that time.

AJMAL ACHEKZAI: I told myself I was going to go back to Afghanistan, but never thought I would go back in time of war, one of the first 300 boots-on-ground Marines. And when I returned to Kabul, my birth city, I was trying to teach the Marines about the Afghan culture. And then I was teaching the Afghans about the military and what we were about. Being the only one that spoke the language, I became friends with a lot of the locals, and they would bring food. Like, my mom made some food for you. They saw me as one of their own.

Afghan people are one of the most honorable and hospitable people in the world. I was right there between two cultures that I love. And it was a lot of emotion from both ends. (Crying) And then the image of leaving Bagram Airport, I could see the whole city - desert, huge Afghan flag. Afghanistan, to me, is my motherland - beauty, poetry. And they're survivors. That's what they are. Forty years of war, they wake up every day, dust the dirt off their shoulder and keep going.

We told them that we're here for their safety. We're here to make sure that they progress. But I feel like I failed the Afghan people because I lied to them. (Crying) I had to escape just like them. I joined the service basically to serve the country that allowed me to come. And as I've gotten older, I've realized what my part in this world is. It's to help others. It's the rent we pay to live in this country. If there was something I would say to the people of Afghanistan that are waiting to come, I'm sorry. We failed you, but keep hope alive. Always fight until you get that freedom again.

(SOUNDBITE OF FREDRIK'S "MILO")

MARTIN: Marine Corporal Ajmal Achekzai for StoryCorps in Los Angeles. He served two tours in Afghanistan and was honorably discharged in 2004. He has family and friends who are still there trying to get out. His interview will be archived at the Library of Congress.

(SOUNDBITE OF FREDRIK'S "MILO") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.