130th Engineer Brigade

Story by 2nd Lt. Brian Williams

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, MOSUL, Iraq— Amidst the 130th Engineer Brigade Headquarters' daily battle rhythm at COS Marez, Mosul, Iraq, beamed the welcoming smile and charming personality of "Mr. Najib," the Mosul Reconstruction Cell translator. The 70-year-old, 5-foot tall translator could easily have been overshadowed by the masses of uniformed Soldiers around him, but what he lacked in youth and height, he made up for in his depth of wisdom and gregariousness. Whether offering a friendly greeting or some sagely advice on relationships, Najib Mahmud loved working with the Army and particularly the Soldiers. He always told them, "You are the best of the best!"

Born and raised in Palestine, Najib moved to Saudi Arabia as a young adult and became a teacher. He later came to the United States, assimilating to the American lifestyle with his wife, Halima Mahmud. He settled in Chicago and raised his four children, Athir, Nadia, Mohammad and Majdy, there. With a degree in structural civil engineering, Najib worked for the city of Chicago Municipality for over 30 years. He assisted and planned the reconstruction of the Chicago Midway International Airport along with many other buildings on the west and east sides of the city. He also completed numerous roads, bridges, parking lots and high-rise building projects throughout his career. Later, he worked at the Jardine Water Purification Plant. In his late sixties, he decided to delay retirement just a little while longer.

In May 2008, Najib joined the contracting company Global Language Solutions and made his way to the Middle East to offer his engineering and bilingual skills to the U.S. Army. He began translating documents and projects for the Mosul Reconstruction Cell, working as a linguist for the 18th Engineer Brigade and later the 130th Engineers. Najib put in countless hours and dedicated himself to translating projects that focused on improving the essential services for the city of Mosul. Even with his busy schedule, he faithfully woke up early every morning to walk down to the phone center to call his wife and catch-up with family.

In September, after a brief vacation to Chicago, Najib returned to Iraq, but without his usual spark. He was showing signs of disorientation and his vision was becoming impaired. After a trip to the Combat Support Hospital emergency room at COS Marez, Najib was diagnosed with a possible brain tumor. He was moved to a hospital in Kuwait, and several days later, transported to a Chicago hospital. On Sept. 25, he passed away at the hospital with his family by his side.

"He began his professional life as a teacher in Saudi Arabia, where he taught reading, writing, and mathematics. His life ended reading, writing, and translating in Iraq. I suppose he came full circle, "said his daughter, Athir.

With a love for family and a respect for service to country and community, Najib lived a life that reflected his true character; he cared about others. His jokes and laughter will be missed, and his eternal retirement is well earned.

Nancy Zerwanda, a co-translator and fellow Chicagoan, had worked with Najib since February, 2009. With tears in her eyes she said, "I will miss Mr. Charlie [Najib] so much. He treated me like his own daughter and he was like a father to me. He taught me so much about engineering while I stumbled over translating unfamiliar terms. He always told me to live a good life and work as long as I can. He said 'age is just a number when it comes to work, as long as you are happy and healthy then keep working. Do your best and be thankful for everyday that you made a little difference.'"

Najib is survived by his wife, Halima, his two sons, Mohammed and Majdy, and two daughters, Athir and Nadia.

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