Afghan family makes new life in the Missouri Ozarks with help of one U.S. veteran

Romal Noori worked for the United States military in Afghanistan for almost a decade, but his family was stuck behind as U.S. troops withdrew and the Taliban took over.

Thanks to the help of one veteran in southwest Missouri, Noori, his wife, and their four small children landed in Springfield's airport this week to start a new life in the Ozarks.

"I am wordless," Noori mumbled as his family embraced the family of the man who got him out of Afghanistan.

"We are so excited. We are going to start our new life here, so we are very happy," he said.

In part, Noori's family has that life because of Tommy Breedlove, who dedicated his life to get out thousands of at-risk Afghans who worked for the United States government before the Taliban takeover last year.

Tommy and Sally Breedlove hug Romal and Farishta Noori as they greet them and their four children at the Springfield-Branson National Airport on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Romal Noori, who served as a translator for American troops in Afghanistan, fled the country with his family after the troop withdrawal last year.
Tommy and Sally Breedlove hug Romal and Farishta Noori as they greet them and their four children at the Springfield-Branson National Airport on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Romal Noori, who served as a translator for American troops in Afghanistan, fled the country with his family after the troop withdrawal last year.

Having previously served in Iraq with the U.S. Army, Breedlove worked in Afghanistan as private security contracted through the U.S. government from 2006 to 2013. There, he served as an advisor to Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, and trained his personal security forces.

Since 2013, Breedlove has lived back home in Ozark — working sales at a roofing company and raising a family with his wife.

When Breedlove heard from his translator that some US allies were being left behind, he co-founded one of several private nonprofits trying to extract these American and Afghan allies.

Breedlove's translator and Noori worked as Breedlove's inside men — escorting many of their countrymen out of Afghanistan to safety.

According to Breedlove, the two men were personally responsible for saving dozens of U.S. allies and their families.

At great personal risk, Noori participated in a series of interviews with the New York Times while still in Afghanistan.

"We are big family ...," Noori exclaims while holding his children in one of the NYT interviews. "Last night, too many attacks on the base. The kids, they cried. I told them there is no Taliban, nothing is going to happen to us. Don't worry."

At the end of the NYT video, Noori and his family were still trapped in Afghanistan. But in early 2022, they all landed in their new home.

"They are my heroes," he said of Breedlove and his wife. "I know they won't like that but they are. They have changed my life — the life of my children."

More: Springfield veteran works to save thousands trapped in Afghanistan after U.S. withdrawal

More: Springfield asked to resettle 100 Afghan refugees

Having sponsored them in the United States, the Breedloves are housing the Nooris and their four children — three boys and a girl ranging in age from six years to ten months.

"I'm just overwhelmed with joy. There's nothing better," said Sally, Breedlove's wife, as she escorted the small children out of the airport.

Farishta Noori holds 10-month-old Sorosh Noori while Sally Breedlove holds the hand of 5-year-old Behishta Noori and 6-year-old Abdul Bai Noori walks alongside as they make their way to baggage claim at the Springfield-Branson National Airport on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. The Nooris fled Afghanistan after the troop withdrawal last year.
Farishta Noori holds 10-month-old Sorosh Noori while Sally Breedlove holds the hand of 5-year-old Behishta Noori and 6-year-old Abdul Bai Noori walks alongside as they make their way to baggage claim at the Springfield-Branson National Airport on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. The Nooris fled Afghanistan after the troop withdrawal last year.

"From the beginning there has been no question this is what we would be doing. Tommy has determination like no else I've ever met."

Sally said she is looking forward to introducing the children to American culture and to her own children.

"There's so many things we want to do. There's so much the Ozarks has to offer for these kids. Wonders of Wildlife is definitely going to be one of the first things we take them (to see). I think the kids will love seeing all that."

Arriving late on a Monday evening, the Breedloves hoped to get their new housemates home and in bed quickly — but the Noori children had other ideas.

Just as the group reached the doors of the airport, six-year-old Abdul Bais bee-lined to a bag of new toys the Breedloves had brought. Tearing into the packaging, Abdul and his five-year-old sister were soon playing with an assortment of toy trucks and other goodies.

Despite the language barrier, Sally was soon playing with the kindergarten-age children on the floor of the airport.

"This is happiness," Sally said on the floor.

Tommy Breedlove shakes hands with 6-year-old Abdul Bais Noori at the Springfield-Branson National Airport on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Noori's dad, who served as a translator for American troops in Afghanistan, fled the country with his family after the troop withdrawal last year.
Tommy Breedlove shakes hands with 6-year-old Abdul Bais Noori at the Springfield-Branson National Airport on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Noori's dad, who served as a translator for American troops in Afghanistan, fled the country with his family after the troop withdrawal last year.

Though Romal Noori's immediate family is safe in the Ozarks, Tommy Breedlove stressed he still has more work to do. Noori's extended family is still in Afghanistan and his translator's wife and six children could still be in danger.

"I'm still working to get their family and other guys out," he said.

At the end of the month, Breedlove is going to Pakistan ensure a group Afghan nationals can get to the U.S. or another safe country.

"We're gonna get people out of Pakistan. We've got about a hundred and thirty people there for which we're still facilitating passports and documents."

Noori says he still worries for the extended family he had to leave behind.

"The only problem I have here is my family is being in Afghanistan. We save my kids, we save my wife, so that is very good thing that happened to us. My only one worry that my family is back there. We are going to do something, get them out there," he told the News-Leader.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: US veteran helps Afghan family settle into new life in Missouri Ozarks