Proud to be an American

Note: One of the highlights of my time in Port Huron has been serving as beat writer for the former Port Huron Pirates of the Continental Indoor Football League for two years. Some of these guys had some stories to tell. My favorite profile was of Wael Jarbou, an offensive lineman from Iraq. From July 5, 2006.

Seated in McMorran Arena's promotional "Best Seat in the House," Wael Jarbou of the Port Huron Pirates recounted his long and arduous journey from Iraq to the Blue Water Area.

There were the dirt fields he played in when he was 9 years old in northern Baghdad, enemy fighter jets patrolling the skies above.




There was the feeling of relief and blessedness when he stepped off the plane in the United States about a year later, thanking heaven for his chance at a new life.

Now, there are football Saturdays where he gets to enjoy the camaraderie of his team and the freedom to play the game he loves.

Jarbou, 24, is the starting center for the 10-0 Pirates. He also was named an alternate for the first Great Lakes Indoor Football League All-Star game. He's also a special-education teacher in Southfield and an assistant football coach at Southfield-Lathrup High School.

The league-best Pirates will take on the Battle Creek Crunch on Saturday in the first round of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League playoffs.

Growing up

Things weren't always so easy for Jarbou, who was born in Baghdad and was 9 years old during the first Persian Gulf War.

He remembers the tragedy of the time well.

"One of the most tragic memories was the time I almost died," he said.

Jarbou and some of his siblings were playing in a dirt field near an electric transformer with U.S. fighter jets looming in the skies above.

"We were out there on the field, wondering what our destiny was going to be," Jarbou said. "We wondered if we were going to die that day or maybe the next."

The jets did not fire that day, for reasons Jarbou soon would find out.

About six weeks later, Jarbou saw one of the pilots of those jets on a TV interview.

The pilot said one of her missions was to wipe out the area with air attacks. When she saw kids playing near the targets, however, she could not go through with the plans.

"That was us," Jarbou said.

He said he had distant cousins who were tortured under Saddam Hussein's regime, and he's had brothers imprisoned for being Catholic.

"I'm just thankful that my whole family is alive," Jarbou said. "Some of my brothers were in the army but never saw action."

New opportunities

After the Persian Gulf War, Jarbou and his family were allowed to leave and come to the United States.

"When I came here I took a deep breath and thanked God," Jarbou said.

Jarbou has made the most of his time in the United States.

Though some of his family members went right to work in stores to make money, Jarbou insisted he stay in school.

He took up football at Southfield-Lathrup and, despite the language barrier, made a name for himself on the gridiron.

"He had an outstanding work ethic," said Frank Czapski, Jarbou's high school offensive-line coach. "When you see where the young man came from, it's just remarkable."

Jarbou received a full scholarship from the University of Toledo and starred on the Mid-American Conference powerhouse team for four seasons.

Upon graduation, Jarbou returned to the community that first gave him a fresh chance.

"He graduated from Toledo and is giving back to his community," said Czapski, who now coaches with Jarbou. "You just don't see that in young kids these days."

Giving thanks

Back home in Iraq, a second war has been under way for more than three years.

Jarbou still has aunts, uncles and cousins living in his family's former home. His family talks to them about once a week.

One of Jarbou's aunts, who is a nun, has traveled back and forth from the United States to Iraq throughout the war.

"She says that on some streets there were people just loading up bags with bodies," Jarbou said. "There are no cops there, and people are dying for no reason."

Jarbou said Catholics from wealthy families - such as his own - are frequent targets of kidnappers looking for ransoms.

"It's a real hard situation to talk about," he said.

Jarbou cherishes his time in the United States and Port Huron.

"I love it here. The players and coaching staff, it's all like a family," he said. "Being involved in this community is great. I don't want it to end."

Pirates Coach Brian Hug said having Jarbou around the team has broadened the players' experience this season.

"Some guys who have that pampered life and hear what he went through at 10 years old, it's good for them," Hug said. "(It) makes you put things into perspective of what we have here in the U.S."

Jarbou said what he's seen over the years allows him to cherish every new day.

"Being a teacher and being able to play and coach football, I take that to the heart," Jarbou said. "It means more to me than the whole world because of what I've seen, and (because) of what this country has offered to me. I can't say thank you enough."