[NPR] Young Afghans who recently fled their homeland joined with American soldiers to play a soccer game on a sunny fall day at the sprawling Fort McCoy military base in Wisconsin. The Afghan team had both boys and several girls — including a goalie who wore a black hijab and blue jeans.
They are among 13,000 Afghan refugees who escaped the Taliban forces in August now find themselves at this Army base, awaiting resettlement in communities across the nation.
Nearby, Afghan women hang laundry on chain link fences. Kids play frisbee or scoot by on bikes. Girls walk past hand in hand. Many grown women look out their window in their barracks.
Brig. Gen. Christopher Norrie heads the task force called Operation Allies Welcome. For Norrie and others, these Afghans are not refugees.
"We have guests here who have served and sacrificed with us, who helped us, many here previously wounded in combat — all hopeful for a better future," Norrie says.
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