CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq -- Lance Cpl. Mazen A. Haidar’s language ability and childhood experiences have made him a unique asset to his infantry company here supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The infantryman is Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment’s designated interpreter.
“Haidar is an unbiased link from my voice to the Iraqi minds,” said Company I’s Commander, Capt. Mark Liston.
It would seem to some that 23-year-old, who was born in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, has come full circle in life.
Growing up a half mile from a terrorist attack that killed approximately 241 Marines and Sailors, Haidar spent the first 12 years of his life surrounded by fighting. The constant warfare between Israel and Lebanon was a normal atmosphere for Haidar and his family.
“I remember me and my cousins use to sneak down to the river to go swimming, hoping the Israelis wouldn’t see us,” he explained.
Everyday life, such as going into town or going to school, was a challenge for Haidar and his friends. Everywhere they went they had to ensure there were no attacks happening around them.
“One day we were walking to school and when we got near the school we could see that the door had been shot up by a tank. So we turned around and went home,” said Haidar. “After that incident we were out of school for a week and then had to find alternate schools to go to.”
Schooling would soon turn out to be a very important aspect in his life.
His father took a job in Detroit, Mich., and brought his two sons to the United States. Haidar and his younger brother Jad soon found themselves submerged in bilingual classes, where they quickly added English to their repertoire of languages that already included both French and Arabic.
As he neared graduation from Fordson High School in 2001, Haidar began thinking about joining the military. His brother, who is one year younger, beat him to it though, joining the Marine Corps and becoming a motor transportation operator.
“My brother ended up joining before me and really made me want to do it even more,” he said. “I joined a year after my brother did, but instead of going to be a driver I decided to be in the infantry.”
At the School of Infantry, he distinguished himself and was meritoriously promoted to private first class from his outstanding performance as a Marine. One week later, he was placed into a squad leader billet that would eventually earn him another meritoriously promotion. This time it was to his current rank of lance corporal.
“I was just doing my job and being the best Marine I could be as I began my career,” he explained.
According to Haidar he knew when he joined the Marines that his fluency in the Arabic language would soon be put to good use in the Global War on Terrorism. He deployed here in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and is already being used as an interpreter six months after reporting to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.
“Haidar eliminates the need for a middleman in conversations with locals and the Iraqi Security Force members we work with on a regular basis,” explained Liston.
Being an infantry rifleman, Haidar is out on the streets patrolling and talking with the local citizens.
“I am able to speak directly to them, and that intimidates them a lot because they are not use to talking to a Marine who understands Arabic,” explained Haidar. “They can not cut corners and only tell the interpreters what they want to when they talk to me. I know exactly what they are saying.”
Using his experiences and command of the local language, Haidar is at the forefront of Company I’s efforts to bring stability and security to this region of Iraq.
“His intelligence allows him to help the company get our mission accomplished; in turn striving for a more peaceful community for the locals to live in,” Liston stated.