Photo By Sgt. David Cordova | U.S. Army Sgt. Mamadou Diallo, a Unit Supply Specialist (92Y) assigned to 3rd...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo. -- U.S. Army Sgt. Mamadou Diallo, a Unit Supply Specialist (92Y), assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), doubted whether he would ever reunite with his wife again while waiting for her green card paperwork to process. For him, hope was fading away with each passing day.
Diallo, even when faced with extreme hardship, showed what it means to be a Soldier who not only possesses the Army Values - but lives them as well.
He and his wife, Mariam Bah, are from Guinea, West Africa where their families were friends. They built a strong connection growing up before he ultimately immigrated to the United States in 2015, dreaming of a bright future.
Diallo attended college and stayed in contact with Mariam while settling into a new life, even while oceans apart. In 2018, Diallo decided to enlist in the Army as a Unit Supply Specialist and through all his training, he constantly thought of Mariam.
Diallo and Mariam got married in 2021. He flew back to Guinea to tie the knot; however, the joy was short lived as Diallo had to return to the U.S. without Mariam. Diallo submitted Mariam's green card paperwork immediately after getting married, but her paperwork was ultimately delayed.
“At some point we were worried about losing one another,” said Diallo. “Usually, you get married and then live with each other, so I was stressed out about her not living with me, and I was also personally worried about the relationship not working out.”
Diallo remained loyal to both his wife and his country. He remained unwavering in his commitment to getting Mariam to the United States while continuing to serve his country. Mariam waited two years for her green card to be granted, a process that usually takes 6-9 months. With little progress after two years, Diallo decided to talk to his leadership.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Hernandez, Diallo’s Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC), became aware of the challenges Diallo was facing while they were on a rotation.
“I found out how long he had been waiting so when we got back from the rotation, we really pressed on the gas and did everything we could,” recounted Hernandez.
The 10th SFG(A) command team caught wind of Diallo’s situation. Diallo’s struggles went all the way through the chain of command and Hernandez made sure Diallo’s problem was resolved fully, which reinforced his commitment to helping his Soldiers.
“Helping Soldiers with their personal lives is what I enjoy most about being a senior leader,” proclaimed Hernandez with a smile. “Of my 21 years of service, this is a top highlight of my career.”
Mariam received an email stating that she was qualified for an immigrant visa, and she would be scheduled for an interview with the U.S. Embassy. On March 7, 2024, following three years of uncertainty, Mariam flew to New York after finally receiving her green card.
Diallo is now helping Mariam acclimate to life in Colorado Springs, excited to start a new chapter in their lives.
“I am very thankful to my NCO, OIC, and XO [executive officer] for getting involved,” proclaimed Diallo. “I hope this relationship lasts forever and I’m very grateful to her [Mariam] patience for almost four years before this worked out.”
| Date Taken: | 04.04.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.09.2024 16:36 |
| Story ID: | 469909 |
| Location: | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 83 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A Reunion Worth Fighting For, by SGT David Cordova, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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