'First in, last out': North Carolina community welcomes Afghan translator who served the 82nd Airborne

One of the 82nd Airborne's translators, Zabiullah R. affectionately known by the troops as Johnny, arrived with his family at his new home in rural North Carolina.

Johnny, who served with U.S. infantry units for more than six years, was rescued at the end of August by a U.S. Senator, a private veterans group, and members of the 82nd Airborne, one of the last combat translators to make it out before the war’s end.

As he exited the car which drove him and his wife and three daughters from Fort Lee, Virginia on the last part of this perilous journey that started in the chaos outside the Kabul airport, Johnny hugged Sgt. Mike Verardo, with whom he served in southern Afghanistan a decade ago.