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Name: Johnny Walker is an informative personal journey
of an Iraqi translator who worked with the Navy SEALs. Co-authored
by Jim DeFelice it reads more like a fictional thriller than
a memoir. Walker’s story is amazing and gives a unique
perspective on the Iraqi War.
Johnny Walker, a Mosul born, pro-American Muslim’s story
is an invaluable insider’s perspective of Iraq. The
book traces how Mosul transformed from a ‘melting pot’
of religious tolerance to a refuge for extremists and terrorists.
Although the military describes his job as an interpreter
his duties can be best described as an investigator. He explained,
“my country, my rules…What to one culture seems
a sign of strength, to another may be a billboard of weakness.
And that was often true in Iraq. My tricks of the trade included
asking children for an ID, examining papers, looking at the
house culture, and allowing the enemy to let their guard down.
I had to be careful to determine who were the innocents and
who were the bad guys. For example, one time this militia
guy we were looking for gave me a Sunni name. After talking
to the children and searching his house I found he was a Shia.”
Although he first took the job for the money and to feed his
family the book traces how he came to consider himself part
of the SEAL team and his teammates as family. He worked side
by side with them to bring the bad guys to justice even though
his family lived in constant jeopardy. He stated, “The
SEALs toughness and their loyalty to one another made them
accept each other, and they had adopted me as one of them.
They were honorable while the extremists were not. The insurgents
never battled you face to face and would kill innocent people
to send a message as they had on 9/11. They killed people
because of their beliefs. It became more than a job. They
are part of my family. I would do anything to find the bad
guys and save my team’s life.”
The book also goes into great detail on how the SEALs never
deserted their “terp” and how they helped him
to come to America, where he is currently in the process of
becoming an American citizen. He feels he found the American
dream and no longer has to worry about his and his family’s
safety. He still works with the SEALs as a cultural advisor.
This book as in American Sniper explores why the insurgency
took hold in Iraq. He agrees with the comment by the late
Chris Kyle, “Iraq is like an early 1776 America. We
helped to set them up now they have to get it right.”
Johnny regards Iraq like a child who is trying to see his/her
place in the world. He is hoping, “Over a period of
time Iraq will be healthy. There is a saying that G-d will
never change you until you start changing yourself. Iraqis
need to speak out and insist on change. We need to take charge
of our own destiny.”
Code Name: Johnny Walker is an insightful book filled
with details on SEAL operations and the price ordinary Iraqis
had to pay. Throughout the book the author gives a vivid sense
of his perspective and desires. This amazing story is very
riveting and illuminating.
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