No One Left Behind’s Post

One of the deadliest areas in Afghanistan. A campaign that would kill 24 Marines and wound hundreds more. U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Thomas Schueman was there, fighting alongside an Afghan interpreter they called Zak. "Back in 2010 in the Sangin District Helmand Province, Zak was fighting alongside my Marines, risked his life on multiple occasions and actually personally saved my own life," Schueman said. "This was more than an interpreter, this was a brother." Schueman was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received in that campaign. When the Taliban swept through Afghanistan in August 2021, Schueman refused to abandon the man who'd saved his life. "The Marine Corps has a saying Semper Fidelis, always faithful no better friend, no worse enemy, and we have to live that ethos," Schueman said. "Zak upheld his end of the deal. And I was morally and ethically obligated to uphold our end of the deal." Schueman personally fought to get Zak and his family safely out of Afghanistan. In August 2021, they made it. Zak risked his life on multiple occasions. He saved American Marines. Maj. Schueman made sure America kept its promise. This is the Power of a Promise.