Greg Peppin is a Shining Example of Humanity #AtoZChallenge

In 1996, young Awaz Barwari was on Saddam Hussein's hit list for 'the crime of being Kurdish', an ethnic group targeted for genocide. The U.S. offered to help her out of the country. But when she reached the border, there was an unforeseen complication. Her baby - 36 days old - was not on the list and would not be allowed to leave Iraq. She could leave her baby in Iraq or else stay back and face certain death.

Awaz Barwari seemed destined for death, unwilling to give up her newborn until a stranger, a US soldier, came to her aid. Determined not to allow either the mother or child to be killed, Lt. Colonel Greg Peppin stepped forward and claimed the child as his own so that the baby could reach America under his passport. Once she realized what the soldier was trying to do, Awaz went along with the ruse. Mother and child safely escaped Iraq and reached the United States.

The soldier and the woman lost touch after they landed and years passed by as the two moved on with their respective lives. But the tale of the soldier was stuck in one young mind. Lava Barwari, the baby who escaped, grew up wondering about the American her mother spoke of. And when the time came for her high school graduation, she found him via the internet.

The day I got Lava's email was one of those signature 

days that kind of make your life worthwhile,' 

Greg Peppin.

Lava Barwari met Greg Peppin for only the second time in her life just before her graduation ceremony began.

'I'm happy you tracked me down. I wouldn't miss 

this for the world,' Greg Peppin told Lava as she 

finally hugged and thanked the man who saved her life.

Are you curious to know what Lava Barwari felt?

I know I was. So I 'followed her technique and tracked her down online' and she was gracious enough to pen her feelings here.

Meeting Greg was so surreal. When I told my mom I wanted to invite him she was completely supportive until we looked him up to try and find him. I remember she told me not to try and contact him but I didn't listen. Part of me said that I had to. So I did and with the help of a classmate I got his email. I wrote and kept rewriting the email so many times until I forced myself to send it.

I was scared too because at the back of my mind I thought "What if he wants nothing to do with me or what if he doesn't remember me." 

I got an email the next day while in English class and I tried so hard not to freak out. I was trying to get my friend's attention from across the room. And then I texted my mom in all caps saying "HE REMEMBERS ME!" My mom was so confused but when I sent her the email she was also really happy.

I knew graduation wouldn't have been the same if he didn't come after that. It was my way of saying thank you for helping save us during a really bad time. He's such a genuine person and it's hard to find people like that now a days. I know if it weren't for him helping my mom we wouldn't be here. And I will always be thankful from the bottom of my heart to this man.

Why I want you to remember Greg Peppin

A lie that saves an innocent life is no lie in my book. When the choice comes down to following the rule book or helping someone by doing the right thing, I hope you find it in your heart to always - ALWAYS - do the right thing.

I hope you will find it in you to someday be a Greg Peppin to someone in need.

This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes: Shining Examples of Kindness and Compassion. You can find other real-life heroes here.