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Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Emad Mikha, Sterling Heights : Translator killed working in Iraq

By George Hunter / The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/2004/obituaries/0404/16/b02-120961.htm

Emad Mikha’s family left Iraq when he was 11 to escape the Baath party’s persecution, but he never forgot his roots.

When the U.S. Department of Defense put out the call last year for Arabic-speaking Americans to become interpreters in Iraq , Mr. Mikha answered, taking a position as a civilian translator for the U.S. Army.  “It was always his dream to help the people of Iraq ,” said his wife, Rita. “He wanted to help bring the Iraqi people and Americans together. He wanted to make a difference over there.”

Mr. Mikha was killed in the Iraqi town of Muqdadiyah , about 70 miles northeast of Baghdad on Saturday, April 3, 2004. He was 44. Details of his death were not available.  Mr. Mikha was born in the Chaldean community in Basra , Iraq . When he was 11, his family fled Iraq and immigrated to the United States .  His family settled in San Diego . Mr. Mikha eventually opened a small store and became a butcher.  Six years ago, in the midst of a weak California economy, Mr. Mikha decided to move his family to Sterling Heights .

Mr. Mikha was a butcher at a Pontiac IGA market for several years before he volunteered to work for the Army in Iraq as an Arabic-speaking interpreter.

“He was very excited about having a chance to help both his country and the people in Iraq ,” his wife said.  Mr. Mikha was employed by San Diego-based Titan National Security Solutions, an Army contractor. He arrived in Iraq in December, and was working with the Army in the city of Baqubah , about 40 miles northeast of Baghdad .

Mr. Mikha was supposed to return home in June, his wife said. The couple planned to take a vacation to Las Vegas , during which they were to renew their vows.  Rita Mikha spoke to her husband on the telephone last month.

“He said ‘I love you, and I hope you received the anniversary present I sent,’ ” Rita Mikha said.  She received word of her husband’s death on Sunday, April 4 — the couple’s 16th wedding anniversary.  The next day, she received the present her husband sent. She still has not opened it.  “I don’t have the heart to open it yet,” she said.  In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, Pierre and Patrick; and a daughter, Bianca.  Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at Hopcroft Funeral Home, 31145 John R in Madison Heights . 

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at Mother of God Chaldean Church, 25585 Berg Road in Southfield .

You can reach George Hunter at (313) 222-2027 or ghunter@detnews.com.

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