Iraqi Refugee Finds New Home In North Georgia

Chatsworth, Georgia is home to a most unlikely new resident - an Iraqi man who fled the violence of his war-torn country.

Ayad Mohammed Majeed is living with a man he calls friend and brother, who worked side-by-side training Iraqi policeman .

Majeed had to make a very painful decision - to stay in Iraq with his family and face almost certain assasination, or get out of the country and hope he can also bring his family to a new land and start life over in a peaceful land.

"And when I got here, I like the living here more," Majeed said

Majeed has been in Chatsworth since February 26. While it's the beginning of a new, safe life here it's the end of a very long and agonizing process getting into this country as an Iraqi refugee.

He left behind a wife and three children - heartbreaking but necessary, because he is among hundreds of Iraqi's who are targeted by assassins. That's because he helped Americans, working as a translator.

His friend, "combat brother" and new roommate Chuck Butler said "some people would underestimate it, I thought it was mostly underrated because you hired a local that was giving us credibility."

Majeed paid a heavy price being an interpreter. During a convoy with American forces the group was hit by an explosive device - Americans he calls brothers were killed, Majeed lost his right arm.

He says the biggest difference between living here and there isn't the culture or food, but the peace of being able to sleep at night.

"I couldn't sleep well, most of the time I was afraid for my life. So imagine yourself sleeping at night, waking up every ten minutes to check around for someone coming towards your house to kill you," Majeed said

Working with Majeed in the Civilian Police Assistant Training Team, Butler wanted to do everything he could to get his new friend to safety.

Majeed first went to Jordan and later through the help of Catholic Charities and Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss was able to live with Butler in Chatsworth.

Majeed says he's adjusting to the mountains, weather, and yes southern food like biscuits and gravy.

"I gained some weight because of the food," Majeed said with a chuckle.