Soldier Watches Child He Helped in Iraq Graduate.
LT. COL. GREG PEPIN, RETIRED U.S. SOLDIER: I'm happy you tracked me down.</s>LAVA BARWARI, HELPED BY AMERICAN SOLDIER: So am</s>I. PEPIN: I wouldn't miss this for the world.</s>BALDWIN: The last time they saw each other, I'm thinking Lava didn't quite remember it because she was 36 days old. Her mother, though, Awaz, definitely remembers this. The back story is she was actually on Saddam Hussein's kill list because she was targeted for being Kurdish. The United States agreed to help her get out. But when Awaz arrived at the border, an Iraqi official would not allow her to leave with her daughter. That's when Lieutenant Colonel Pepin stepped in, and through a simple name change at the border, helped secure Lava's escape. Lava and her mother, Awaz, join me now. Ladies, welcome. Lava, congratulations on graduating.</s>LAVA BARWARI: Thank you so much.</s>AWAZ BARWARI, MOTHER OF LAVA: Thank you for having us.</s>BALDWIN: Lava, let me begin with you. Obviously, you put some effort into finding Greg. Can you just -- the moment a couple days ago when you finally got to hug him, to say thank you, what was that like for you?</s>LAVA BARWARI: It was a lot of mixed emotions going on. It was a lot of excitement and nervousness mainly. But it was a really good feeling.</s>BALDWIN: What did you tell him?</s>LAVA BARWARI: I thanked him a lot for being able to make it out and for coming and remembering me.</s>BALDWIN: Because he did, all these years later, he remembered you. Awaz, as a mother, can you just take me back 18 years ago and what that felt like as you were trying to leave and someone suddenly tells you, well, you can't take your daughter.</s>AWAZ BARWARI: Yeah, I was working with American organizations. Because of that, I end up in a kill list. America decided to evacuate us through the Operation Pacific Heaven. At that time, I was pregnant with my daughter. When I got to the daughter, I already had her. They told me, you can leave, but your daughter cannot leave, because she's not on the list. I said, I'm not leaving without her. So he said, you can toss her to somebody to deliver to your family if you don't have any -- you know, but you cannot take her to the United States. So we end up getting out of the bus and going back home. So he came in to check what's going on. We told him, they're not going to allow our daughter to pass. So he said, what's her name? I gave him her name. He said, no, her name is not Lava anymore. Her name today is Greg. Today, she's going to go to the United States. If I have to, I'll give her my passport and she's going to use it to travel.</s>BALDWIN: So he was essentially saying use my name, I'm willing to give you a passport just so you can leave with your daughter.</s>AWAZ BARWARI: Yeah, he put his hand on my shoulder and told me not to worry. Today she's going to be Greg, and if I have to, she's going to go to the United States and I'm going to be here in her place.</s>BALDWIN: Oh, my goodness. 18 years ago, I'm sure that feels like yesterday. The lieutenant colonel talked to us. He couldn't join us today so we had to talk to him separately. And here he is responding to the e-mail, Lava, that you sent.</s>PEPIN: I couldn't believe it. I had no idea where they were or how they were faring or anything else. Hadn't heard or seen them or communicated since that day we got them across the border. To get the e-mail and when Lava said this is from baby Greg and explained how she had my name for all these years and her mother told her the story for all these years, then she wanted to find me. I was, one, amazing she could find my name because I wasn't wearing a uniform, and then, two, it was just so rewarding that they're doing so well. It just -- not only did it make my day, but it made my year and my career in the military.</s>BALDWIN: Made his year, made his career in the military. Ladies, I mean, to hear that and to see his face. It almost seemed like he was surprised, you know, Lava, that you took the time, that you knew the story, and wanted to find him.</s>LAVA BARWARI: Yeah, I mean, I always heard the story as a child, so I knew I wanted to try and find him or at least thank him for everything he did for my family. But him being there was a lot better than I could have ever imagined.</s>BALDWIN: I can't imagine. He also talked about the challenges you all faced escaping Iraq and starting a new life here in the U.S. Here he is again.</s>PEPIN: For them to come to America, if you think about it, when they left Iraq in the circumstances they did, with poor English skills, going to a country they don't know, not even knowing where in the country they're going to end up, no job. Their sole worldly belongings in one suitcase and with a little baby. That takes courage to do that. Absolutely a brave couple. Then to come to America and embrace America, the community of Buford embracing them, and to see them doing so well. Awaz has a master's degree in I.T. Lava graduating from high school and going on to further education. It's just a fantastic feeling they're doing so well and that America has given them the opportunity to do this.</s>BALDWIN: I'm watching you, Awaz, watch him. This is 18 years later. Still very emotional for you.</s>AWAZ BARWARI: It is. I mean, he saved us that day. I have a big, you know, depth of gratitude to him and to U.S. I don't think it's ever going to go away. Because every day is like, you know, reminds me of what he did. Every day I see my daughter is growing up here and embracing life here and achieving her goals. It's a reward. And a gratitude after that to him and for he done to all of us.</s>BALDWIN: It is so wonderful.