Wartime Heroism Meets Post-War Reckoning
In July 2007, a U.S. Apache helicopter strike in Baghdad’s Al-Amin al-Thaniyah neighborhood left 12-year-old Sajad and his 4-year-old sister Duah gravely injured. Their father was killed instantly. Former U.S. Army Ranger Ethan McCord, among the first responders, carried the siblings from their destroyed vehicle to safety – an act he describes as “the only humane choice.”
15 Years Later: A Chance Reconnection
In December 2022, CGTN journalists tracked down Sajad in Baghdad and unexpectedly located McCord through military records. In a raw on-camera interview for The Legacy of War, McCord reflected:
“I feel used… We should have never been there.”The veteran confirmed he’d received no updates about the children since 2007 until this documentary effort.
Apology Across Borders
Despite safety concerns about criticizing U.S. military actions, McCord insisted on sharing his story: “It’s important to say sorry.” The documentary team verified his consent multiple times before airing the emotional reunion, underscoring war’s generational trauma and unexpected human connections.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
